WINE/WINE GRAPES QUESTION
When do you prune your grape vines? We prune ours in the early spring,
before bud growth. Should we also be pruning them in the summer since
they seem to grow too long and end up growing on the ground.
thanks Bob Howe
Mt. Sinai, NY
ANSWER
Thank you for your question on vine pruning. At Pindar Vineyards, we start pruning on or about December 1st of each year. We typically start with the variety that is picked first (Cayuga and Seyval). The reason for this is that we want the vines to have ample time to harden off and go completely dormant. The last group to be pruned is the Cabernet Sauvignon, and that typically happens in late February.
Pruining your grape vines in early Spring is fine. This is even better for the vines because by early spring you will see which shoots have survived the winter and which have died off. When you are finished pruning, make sure you rake and remove any of the dead leaves and fruit below the vines. Many vine diseases such as Powdery Mildew will stay over the winter on dead leaf matter.
Feel free to trim the vines back during the summer. We trim the top growth off in late June. A vine is a vine and it will keep wanting to grow and climb up the trellis. Just give the vine a light trimming and this can be done during June and July. This will allow the vine to put more energy into sizing and maturing the fruit.
Thanks!
Pindar Damianos
GENERAL VEGETABLE GARDENING QUESTION
I have been trying to find out what types of garden vegetables are native to Long Island? I have tried looking through the Cornell Cooperative website, but have had no success. Thank you.
Lauren
West Islip, NY
ANSWER
My understanding of the earliest LI crops were: corn, beans, lavender, sage, thyme, rosemary, and pumpkins. I remember my Grandfather maintaining a first settlers garden as part of our 200 year celebration on the farm. All those things were in it. Tobacco was added by the first settlers almost immediately as well so he planted some of that as well. I hope that helps.
Prudence Heston Wickham