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215

07:44 PM Jun 15, 2012
Boston, MA
usda zone 6a
I am not sure if grapevines count in this category, but I'm going to post here anyway.  My father bought me two table grape vines (one red and one green) last spring.  It is now just over a year later and they are thriving and look to bear fruit this year.  My question is how is it best to prune them?  They are growing so quickly and I don't want to cut back any leaves as they are protecting the new fruit.  However, they do seem to be tangling up a bit.  Help!

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4 replies
184
Latest post Jun 30, 2012 by Pollinator

81

05:35 AM Jun 18, 2012
Tacoma, WA
usda zone 7b
I hope this helps a bit. I have some older vines that are past taming but the younger ones I'm trying to retrain. Its going to take a bit of imagination on my part lol Happy Gardening!  http://www.foodsci.purdue.edu/research/labs/enology/Pruninggrapes08.pdf

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215

03:33 PM Jul 02, 2012
Boston, MA
usda zone 6a
@FreyjaW: Thanks - that slideshow packs a lot of info and has some nice instructional photos.  Just to be sure that I properly prune I am going to find a video to watch as well...I'll share whatever I find.

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50

06:21 PM Jun 30, 2012
Hemingway, SC
usda zone 8a
I wouldn't prune during the growing season, except maybe to snip a partly broken branch or something like that.  In late winter, but well before the buds start to swell, do your pruning. Select 3-4 branches, or whatever is fitting for the type of trellis you have and remove all other branches. Then remove all but a handful of buds on the branches you've selected.

It's scary to prune grapevines, but if they have good healthy root systems, they will respond with awesome production. If you don't prune, or don't prune enough, they will just give you tiny grapes and a lot of brush. If you ever have a chance, look at a commercial vinyard in March to see how they prune. You'd think they are killing the vines - but it doesn't happen. Instead the vines bear ever more fruit.

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215

03:28 PM Jul 02, 2012
Boston, MA
usda zone 6a
@Pollinator: Thanks for the response!  Lots of usable info. 

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