PRUNING SYSTEMS FOR GRAPE VINES - Afghan Ag

PRUNING SYSTEMS FOR GRAPE
VINES

Andrew Teubes
VG Nurseries

In this presentation

• Pruning objectives
• Grape fruitfulness
• Types of pruning

– Spur
– Short canes
– Long canes

• Practical use of pruning systems

Objectives of pruning

• Controlling the size and structure of the
vine

• Regulate crop size
• Maintain a balance between vegetative

growth and fruiting

– maximizing the yield potential while
maintaining the health of the plant

Fruitfulness of grape vines

• Fruitfulness depends on

– Grape variety (genetic)
– Foliage management (summer practices)

• Sunlight penetration into canopy during and after
flowering

• Fruitfulness involves the number of
clusters per bud as well as the weight of
the clusters

FRUITFULNESS: 1 year old on 2 year old = fruitful (carry clusters)

Shoot from this season
(1 year)

Spur of previous season
(2 years)

Permanent trunk
(3 years or more)

14 Thompson Seedless,
Dauphine

10 Natural fruitfulness
Redglobe, increases from the
Autumn Royal basal position to the

5 apical position

Flame, Victoria 1

Number of clusters per nodeBud fruitfulness of Thompson Seedless canes as a
function of bud position

0.9
0.8 SUN

SHADE
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Node position on cane

Pruning types

• Short spurs/bearers (2 buds)
– High fertility cultivars on cordon trellis
– Flame Seedless, Victoria, Dan-ben-Hannah,
Alphonse Lavalleé

• Half-long/short canes (5-8 buds)
– Medium fertile cultivars
– Red Globe, Autumn Royal

• Canes (10-14 buds)
– Low fertility cultivars
– Thompson Seedless/Kishmish

Productivity of Sauvignon blanc as a function of
pruning technique

Pruning Clusters Cluster Total
method /vine weight weight/
(gram)
2 bud spurs 20.2 vine
63 (gram)

1273

4 bud spurs 31.7 65 2061

Canes 38.5 79 3042

Spur pruning

• Used for varieties that shows high enough
fruitfulness on basal buds

• Vine structure is permanent cordon system
• Shoot positioning normally vertical (VSP) or at

angle (Gable, Y-trellis)
• Spacing between spurs of 12-15 cm important

– Sunlight penetration
– Space for the clusters

Length of spur is 2 clearly defined buds

CORRECT SPACING

12-15 cm

Spacing between spurs result in good sunlight
penetration and spacing of clusters

12-15 cm

Clusters well spaced, not touching each
other

Well spaced clusters on spurs

WRONG SPACING

Results of poor spacing

No lignification of shoots
Low crop levels

= Poor spacing of spurs
No sunlight in canopy

Dead shoots

Results of poor sunlight in into canopy

Cane pruning

• Used for varieties with low natural fruitfulness on basal
buds (1-3)

• Vine structure consists of permanent trunk with annual
renewal canes

• Shoot positioning can be vertical or horizontal
• VERY IMPORTANT: For every one (1) cane that is

pruned, one (1) 2 bud spur must also be left below the
cane for renewal
• Length of cane depends on the position of highest bud
fruitfulness

– Bud 5-8: Short cane
– Bud 9-14: Long cane

Canes in the field

1 year old cane
from this season

2 year old cane from
previous season

How should it be pruned??

Principle of cane pruning

New cane
NOTE: The spur is always

below the position
of the cane
Spur for renewal

CORRECT CANE PRUNING

Fruiting canes of this season
Cane for spur pruning this season
Short cane of previous season
Spur of previous season in correct
Position below cane

CORRECT CANE PRUNING

New cane
Spur for renewal

WRONG CANE PRUNING

Short cane of previous season
No spur at the base of the cane
?? for renewal

Cane pruning in practice

Canes
Spurs

Cane pruning in practice

Cane

Spur

Well spaced clusters on canes