What to Know Before You PlantMarch 5th, 2010Whether you’re planting acres of vineyards or a few vines in your backyard, there are simple tests and checks that will ensure you select the right vines for your project. It‘s all about site analysis. The more you know, the more your vines will thrive. The French call it terroir, pronounced “ter-whah”. Terroir is a way of describing the unique aspects of a place that influences and shapes the wine made from it. Here’s what you need to consider when assessing your site - Soil, Sun, and Water
How to: It can be as simple as digging down 12 to 24 inches, putting a soil sample in a plastic bag, and sending it to a soils laboratory for analysis. Sunridge can recommend several excellent soils labs. Sun exposure - how much sun, shade, wind affects your site
How to: Take an account of your site - the trees on the property, how tree roots might affect your planting site, how much wind your site is exposed to. Water - what’s in it influences the success of your vines
How to: Pour approximately 12 ounces of water in a bottle or jar and take it to a water analysis laboratory or your local water agency. Important things to test for are boron and iron levels which can be toxic to your vines. Once you’ve learned more about the soil, sun, and water at your site, you can now make educated decisions about what to plant. The result will be healthy, vigorous grape vines. Did you know? Why mustard and roses?
Dormant Grape Vines versus Green Growing VinesFebruary 10th, 2010In general, most growers prefer a dormant grape vine to a green growing grape vine. There are advantages to both. For example, when growing a dormant grape vine, it allows you to plant earlier. In Kern, Tulare, King and Fresno counties you can plant as early as January. Although, the soil temperatures are still quite low, it allows you to have a completed and established vineyard without a great deal of root growing activity during this time. More than half of the table grape community prefers to plant dormant vines. This is especially advantageous when a grower has everything already prepared; fumigation, irrigation system, and trellises installed. The advantage of green growing vines allows the grower to make a decision later and complete most of the prep work at a later time as well. I must mention, that green growing vines in the counties mentioned above cannot be planted before the middle of April due to the concern of a late freeze. Although, the soil temperatures are higher, there is still a potential for freeze damage. In the end, both of these planting techniques are very good. The bottom line is, it comes down to a matter of personal preference and timing. Below is a quote from a well respected grower from Delano, Ca. He prefers a green growing grape vine over a dormant grape vine. “I prefer Sunridge greenhouse grown potted bench grafts over any other type of vine. The Superior root system results in higher yields over the life of the Vineyard and the best quality” Grapevine Rootstocks for Oregon VineyardsFebruary 10th, 2010If you are considering a vineyard planting in any of the number of Oregon American Viticultural Areas/Appellations, it is best recommended that a rootstock be considered in your planning. Rootstocks are one of the most important ways grape growers can better manage for a variety of vineyard problems and improve quality. Grape rootstocks contribute to pest and disease resistance including phylloxera and resistance to other soil-borne pests, such as nematodes. Furthermore, the use of rootstocks can help lessen vineyard problems due to soil conditions such as pH extremes, excess salt and nutrients. They can also improve adaptability to local climatic conditions such as shortened growing seasons, drought and excessively cool or hot growing conditions. Important Rootstock Considerations
Rootstock Selections 101-14 Mgt
Comments – Second most used rootstock in Oregon, requires deep soil, moist clay soils, tolerates wet soils, induces low yield-to-pruning ratios, not recommended for dry nonirrigated sites. 3309 C
Comments – Most widely used rootstock in Oregon, prefers deep, well-drained soil with good water-holding capacity, vines on this rootstock tend to over-crop, not recommended for dry nonirrigated sites, sensitive to latent viruses, tolerant of cold injury. Riparia gloire
Comments – Third most used rootstock in Oregon prefers deep, well-drained, fertile and moist soils, good choice for fertile sites where low yields are desired, not recommended for dry nonirrigated sites, early maturation, scions tend to overbear. Malbec ClonesDecember 2nd, 2009Outside of the Pinot Noir buzz we have had over the past few seasons, one of our most popular varietals has been Malbec (Or Cot as our French Entav counterparts call the variety). Over the past few seasons we have added a few new French clones to our catalog. With those along with the few selections from California, growers have a decent amount of options when choosing for their new development. California Clones: FPS #4 – FPS #6 – FPS #9 – FPS #10/11 – Entav Clones:#595 EV – #596 EV – #598 EV – Overall, there is not much data available on Malbec clones. This is mainly a breakdown of what is out there and available. In those areas that have major issues with set, a lower vigor rootstock is the main thing growers can do to see improvements. Outside of that, the French Entav clones seem to fair better as well, but you can get further by making the right rootstock selection. Please contact your local Sunridge Vineyard Representative to get the current plant availability of these selections. Be a Part of the Next Generation - Sunridge Nurseries Leads the WayNovember 19th, 2009How many people in the grapevine vineyard industry “truly” understand why it is important to choose the right nursery, and the right material to plant? I dare say that it is too few, and that is why I would like to take a minute to clarify some issues to make your decisions easier. We are told by the most educated and experienced minds in the industry that there are some basic areas that one should take very seriously when planting a vineyard that will last, will yield well, and will consistently produce quality fruit. Everyone agrees that you should know your site in terms of soil type, water quality, nematode and disease presence, climate, etc. so you can make a proper rootstock and varietal choice. Also, we know that having the proper irrigation and trellis system are very important. I would like to address the vine, and why we are told that you should choose only certified grapevines from a reputable nursery. First, we are told that you “Must Start Clean.” So what is clean? Clean means that the vine not carry disabling diseases at the time of planting. These diseases are an assortment of virus’, fungal, and bacterial pathogens that cannot be cured once the vine is infected. The fungal and bacterial pathogens can be controlled by growing the vines in the proper climate, using sterile nursery protocols, and taking preventative measures to keep them healthy. Sunridge Nursery is located in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, which has a dry desert climate conducive to growing without as much risk of these organisms infecting their grapevines. The virus issue is a bigger challenge, because the health of the stock material is critical to preventing the spread of a virus. That is why the best vine you can possibly plant is a California Certified vine with a pedigree that is traceable back to a known mother vine. So what does California Certified mean?Without making this sound too technical, California Certification refers to a Clean Stock Program that was set up with the cooperation of nurseries, the California University system, the California Dept. of Food and Ag., (CDFA), and the grapevine industry. This program has written rules, is administered by CDFA, and the site of all grapevine source mother vines and all program activities are at Foundation Plant Services, (FPS), at U.C. Davis. The source vines are submitted to FPS, tested for at least two years, and once they are deemed “clean” two vines are planted in their Foundation Block. Nurseries are required to have CDFA do a site survey to gain site approval before acquiring the FPS foundation vines to start a Registered and Certified Increase Block. Only first generation cuttings from a nurseries’ registered increase block can be called “Certified.” Both the rootstock and the budwood must be sourced from a registered block to qualify as certified. Sunridge Nurseries’ Development and Support of Foundation Plant ServicesSunridge Nurseries, founded by owners, Glen, Terrie, and Craig Stoller, helped to develop and write the rules currently in place for the Certification program. It was built out of passion for the industry, and a desire to keep the industry strong over the long run. Sunridge Nurseries is the industry leader in support of FPS, and is the largest contributor to the financial longevity of the program, bar none. Sunridge Nurseries’ Commitment to the California Certification ProgramSunridge Nurseries recently made a profound commitment by stating that all grapevines planted should be Certified Grapevines. We have asked that all growers plant either California Certified vines, or graft tested, virus free budwood onto certified rootstock. This commitment by Sunridge Nurseries, and to the industry as a whole, is the only proven way that we can prevent the spread of virus diseases. Why should a grower just settle for “Clean,” when you can plant California Certified grapevines that also have a known pedigree with the backing of CDFA, FPS, and is in the best interest of the entire industry! A grapevine grown in a test tube does not make it any better. It is just another means of propagating a vine that is planted out into a field to be another increase block. The vines you receive come from cuttings grown outdoors, in a field, and are the same as all other nursery increase blocks. It is the nurseries sterile practices that are important, and the fact that Sunridge Increase Blocks are Registered and Certified that are critical. Come see our facilities so you can get the feel of cleanliness, and understand what “sterile nursery practices” are. You will see that we offer a product that provides the best of both worlds - Certified Source Material grown in a facility that is State-of-the-Art. The Next Generation - It is “Where We Go From Here”It is our goal to persuade every grower to plant only Certified material, and to plant the very best vines available. So in keeping with this very progressive attitude, Sunridge Nurseries is replacing older increase blocks with the latest, most extensively tested material available, which FPS has dubbed as the “Next Generation” grapevine stock material. It has been shoot-tip cultured at FPS and verified that it is virus free and Crown Gall free using both RT-PCR and TaqMan qPCR methods to screen for virus’. FPS has also compared this material with original clones, to verify that they have not been altered during the treatments, before releasing them to nurseries. This material is the best in the world, without a question. Sunridge Nurseries is aggressively planting this registered Next Generation material so it will be available as quickly as possible. This will further protect the future of our industry. Sunridge - Where the Vintage BeginsWe do not succeed unless the growers succeed. That is why we present the facts. No double talk. No creative advertizing. No gimmicks. We have a highly educated staff that will strive to give you only the truth, and base in on hard facts. We have a strong history based on sound principles, from a family run foundation with a passion to do what is right for the industry. Please let us be your first choice when planting your next vineyard. You only have one chance to do it right the first time! After all, Grapevines Are All We Grow!Sincerely, Steve Maniaci, General Manager |
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