3/29 & 3/30 2010

Pruned section b 1 & 2 on 3/29
Pruned section b 3 & 4 on 3/30


As of 3/30, I'd officially call bud break for all of the Cab.  It was too dark to snap a pic when I finished so I brought the cutting below in to show the buds.

3/27 & 3/28 2010

Started pruning.  Of course it looks like the whole process is probably going to take about twice as long as I planned :p  Probably 24 hours or so as opposed to 12.

Rows 1&2 completed on 3/27.  Rows 13 & 14 completed on 3/28.  Very cold and windy out.  Had to stop early for rain.

Going to move on to sections b and c next because the Cab Franc seems much further along toward budbreak than the Merlot.

3/24/2010

It looks like all of the buds are going to be fine. Checked on dance tonight and they are all showing really good progress! Now no more freezes!!!

Going to have to get busy pruning this weekend...

3/22/2010

Checked the thermometers today to see just how cold things got over the weekend.  It seems the elevation really does make a difference.  Here are the readings:

High Point: 30.0 degrees

Mid Point:  28.6 degrees

Low Point   27.9 degrees

I checked the buds and can't tell anything visually at this point, so I'll just need to wait and see if they continue to swell over the next few days.  A setback of 2 weeks or more will tell me that the primaries probably took a hit.  Crossing my fingers...

3/19/2010

The storm system is still on it's way here.  It was 70 degrees today, and they're predicting 6-8 inches of snow tomorrow for our area with lows around 30 :( 

 The front edge of the system rolling in tonight

So I spent some time tonight making a quick trip to Lowe's for some thermometers to see what the minimum temps in the vineyard get down to.  I installed three - one each at the high, mid, and low points on the hill.  They will record min temps until cleared, so I'll be able to see how cold it got.

One of the thermometers I set up to track lows

The last things I did were to put out fresh gopher poison for my friend who's been tearing up the ground with holes and to check the buds - definitely starting to swell and push - even more than two days ago.  Crossing my fingers they're still bundled up enough to make it through this!!

Buds are more open than even two days ago.

03/17/2010

Took a survey of the state of the vineyard tonight.

First of all, I've got a pesky gopher systematically making his way down my best row :(  I found the end of his hole over the weekend and put poison in, but he seems to have ignored it an moved on.  Tried to head him off tonight, but no luck.  I'll keep trying...

Of bigger concern right now is that the buds are starting to swell and push.  This is an iffy time, with a cold snap predicted for this weekend, with temps going down to 29, snow, and high winds.  I'm needing these guys to stay buttoned up a couple more weeks!

The cab buds are swelling and starting to push.

The merlot are further behind - a good thing.

 I also surveyed section A to rate the relative vigor of every vine with an eye toward estimating crop load.  I'll post the results after I have a chance to compile them.

3/13/2010

Lots of progress on the trellis work today.

Finished all t-posts and 3rd wires in section a

Put remaining t-posts (9) in section b, along with 2 more 3rd wires.

Finished all monfilament around section c

Added 4th wire to row 14, making it the 1st completed trellis row.

One of the Cabernet Franc vines weeping where I took my cuttings a couple of weeks ago.  Good sign of healthy vines with no winter damage.  Bud swell should be coming along soon.

3/7/2010

Put up 6 more third wires before running out of splicers to anchor far end.

Used rest of 50 lb test to run 2 sides of a middle strand around section c

3/6/2010

Mostly trellis work today.

Put 8 t posts around section c

Installed the rest (13) in section a

Drilled holes for third wire in posts

Put staples in other post on far end

Added 3 more wires

Had the boys remove vine shelters from section b