Michigan State University Extension
MSU Extension Fruit Bulletins - 26449701
11/30/99
Vineyard Establishment I - Preplant Decisions
List of files and visuals associated with this text.
Thomas J. Zabadal
Department of Horticulture
and
Jeffrey A. Andresen
Department of Geography
Extension Bulletin E-2644 New December 1997
Table of Contents
Introduction
I. Selecting a Vineyard Site
Winter Minimum Temperatures
Growing Season Length
Spring Freeze Damage
Growing Season Heat Accumulation
Cropping History
Soil Characteristics
II. Designing a Vineyard
Row Orientation
Row Length
Row Spacing
Vine Spacing
Headlands, Access Roads and Alleyways
Preliminary Layout of the Vineyard
Mapping the Vineyard
III. Obtaining Grapevines for Planting
Selecting Varieties
Number of Vines Required for Planting
Propagation
Purchasing Vines
IV. Preparing the Site
Weed Control
Tree/Shrub Removal
Soil Erosion Control Measures
Soil Internal Drainage
Soil Chemistry
Irrigation
Replanting Sites with Cropping History
Appendix A
Selecting Wine Grape Varieties
for Planting
Selecting Rootstocks
Sources of Grapevines for Wine Grape
Production
References
Cover Photo:(Vis. C) A Cabernet franc vineyard in its
second growing season near Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Michigan State University Extension, the
Michigan State University Agricultural Experiment Station,
the National Grape Cooperative, and the Michigan Grape and
Wine Industry Council for supporting projects reported in
this manuscript. Thanks also to the Michigan Grape and
Wine Industry Council for direct financial support to
publish this manuscript. The Southwest Michigan Research
and Extension Center field staff - including Jim Ertman,
Jerry Grajauskis, Tom Dittmer, Gaylord Brunke and Fred
Froehlich - provided direct logistical support for many
activities reported here. Dr. Will Carlson and Dr. Jim
Flore provided guidance on the development of this
manuscript. Many helpful comments on the final draft of
this manuscript were provided by Dr. Bruce Bordelon, Dr.
G. Stanley Howell, Robert Blum, Michael Nitz and Dr. Allen
Zencka. Special thanks to the numerous growers in
Michigan, New York and other areas who have so freely
shared their viticultural ingenuity over the past
quarter-century. Much of the information presented on
these pages is a recording of their collective creativity
in vineyard management. Diane Dings has been a major
contributor to this manuscript through graphics
preparation, numerous draft revisions and many helpful
suggestions throughout the process.
Introduction
Grape production is increasing in many viticultural areas
as consumer demand for wine, grape juice products and
table grapes increases. Competition for grapes among
processors and marketers is driving the planting of new
vineyards. Presuming a reliable market for grapes has been
identified, economics is the very first matter to be
resolved when planting a new vineyard. Will a new vineyard
be profitable? Several publications (Bordelon, 1997; Cross
and Casteel, 1992; Kelsey et al., 1989; Varden and Wolfe,
1994; Walker, 1995) can guide individuals in assessing the
profitability of a vineyard. If the economics are
favorable, then one can begin to establish a vineyard.
This publication and its companion, Extension bulletin
E-2645, "Vineyard Establishment II - Planting and Early
Care of Vineyards," are intended to assist in that
process.
I. Selecting a Vineyard Site
Grapevines are relatively easy to grow and can live a very
long time. Some Michigan vineyards are more than a hundred
years old. The commercial grower's goal, however, is not
merely vine survival but production of quality grapes at a
profit. The first and most crucial step to achieve that
goal when planting a new vineyard is selecting a suitable
site.
The climate of a vineyard often is discussed at three
levels (Geiger, 1957). The macroclimate of a vineyard is
the large-scale or regional climate, which is influenced
by geographic location (latitude) and proximity to large,
climate-moderating bodies of water. Proximity to the Great
Lakes, especially Lake Michigan, results in an increase in
cloudiness downwind, which in turn moderates daily
temperatures - i.e., daily maximum temperatures in a
lake-modified climate are lower and daily minima are
generally higher. Therefore, the suitability of a given
location for grape production in Michigan generally
decreases as one moves inland. Because of the prevailing
westerly winds, the area of lake-modified climate is much
wider on the western side of the state near Lake Michigan
than along Lake Huron and Lake Erie on the east side of
the state.
The mesoclimate is the local climate of a specific
vineyard site, which is influenced by the topographic
factors of elevation, slope and aspect (direction of
slope) as well as close proximity to
temperature-moderating bodies of water.
The microclimate is the climate within and around the
vines themselves. This influences important vineyard
characteristics such as how well the leaves and fruit are
exposed to sunlight, what temperatures the fruit
experiences through the day, how long vines remain wet and
susceptible to disease infection after a rain, etc.
When a vineyard site is chosen, attention is first given
to its macroclimate and then to its mesoclimate. Growers
should use the information presented here together with
soil surveys, local weather data and local expertise to
evaluate the macroclimate and mesoclimate characteristics
of a particular vineyard site.
Winter Minimum Temperatures
The most important characteristic of a site for commercial
grape production in a cool climate such as Michigan's is
the extent and frequency of low winter temperatures. Grape
varieties have a genetic limitation for tolerating low
winter temperatures. They may be placed into hardiness
categories (Table 1), which designate temperatures at
which significant injury to vines begins. Very cold-tender
varieties may experience significant winter injury at
temperatures as high as 20 degrees F (Kissler, 1983) and
are not suited for cool-climate locations such as
Michigan. Therefore, this discussion focuses on the
selection of sites for cold-tender or hardier varieties
(Table 1) that do not sustain significant winter injury
until -5 degrees F or lower.
Table 1. The temperature at which significant
winter injury to tissues begins for five
grapevine hardiness categories.
Hardiness Temperature at which vine
category injury begins to occur (0F)
Very cold tender > or equal to 0
Cold tender - 5
Moderately hardy -10
Hardy -15
Very hardy < or equal to -20
Though vine tissues have a genetic limitation for
tolerating low winter temperatures, the level of this
tolerance is influenced by the rate of temperature drop,
cultural practices influencing maturation of vine growth
in the previous growing season, cropping history, time in
the winter period, potassium nutrition and soil moisture
conditions of the vineyard site. Moreover, portions of a
vine vary in their hardiness. For example, fruiting buds
may be extensively damaged by a low-temperature episode
(Vis. 1) while cane and trunk tissues remain healthy. On
the other hand, rapid drops in temperatures may injure
trunk tissues without significantly affecting bud tissues.
Therefore, the nature and extent of winter injury are not
entirely predictable for any given variety-site-weather
combination.
(Vis. 1) A cross-section of a compound grape bud showing
dead primary and secondary buds and a live tertiary bud.
For example, when vines of cold-tender varieties
experience -5 degrees F, they may not die or even be
unproductive the following growing season. Climatic
conditions prior to a -5 degrees F episode may acclimate
cold-tender vines so they experience little injury;
cultural practices applied by a grower may also compensate
for moderate levels of winter injury. Nevertheless, the
risk of unmanageable injury to cold-tender varieties
becomes greater as temperatures dip lower. Therefore, when
vines of cold-tender varieties experience -15 to -20
degrees F, their productivity will often be low the
following growing season. Vine survival itself may be
jeopardized if the grower doesn't employ special cultural
practices. For this reason, a knowledge of the frequency
of temperatures of -5 degrees F and lower helps to define
the potential of a site for grape production as well as
its suitability for varieties within hardiness categories
(Table 1).
Low winter temperatures may threaten vine survival itself,
but most often the major concern is for the long-term
reliability of production. Therefore, it is useful to ask,
"How many years out of 10 can one expect highly productive
vines with the anticipated levels of winter injury for a
specific vineyard site/grape variety combination?" Winter
minimum temperature-frequency data to address that
question for several locations in Michigan (Vis. 2) are
listed in Table 2(Vis. T2).
(Vis. 2) Macroclimatic ratings for suitability for
vineyards based on frequency and extent of winter minimum
temperatures for 31 locations in Michigan. E = excellent,
G = good, A = acceptable, U = unacceptable.
Table 2(Vis. T2) The average number of years out of 10
when winter minimum temperatures of -5 , -10, -15 and -20
degrees F were experienced, the lowest recorded
temperature for the 30-year period from 1961 to 1990, and
a rating of the macroclimate for grape production for 31
locations in Michigan.
Raw winter minimum temperature data for all areas of the
United States may be obtained from the National Climatic
Data Center in Asheville, N.C. (phone: 704-271-4800). The
fee often will be modest, depending on the extent of the
data requested. Extension personnel in other states may
also be good sources of winter minimum temperatures like
those presented in Table 2(Vis. T2) for Michigan. Winter
minimum-frequency data derived from raw temperature data
represent the general climate, or so-called macroclimate,
of a region and integrate large-scale climatological
factors such as jet stream location and lake-enhanced
cloudiness. Because extreme minimum temperatures usually
are associated with clear, calm conditions, mesoclimatic
features become important contributing factors in
describing the low-temperature climate of a given site.
Jordan et al. (1981) classified vineyard sites based on
the frequency of -5, -10 and -15 degrees F winter minimum
temperatures and the long-term winter minimum temperature.
If the criteria in that publication were applied to
Michigan, they would indicate that no excellent or even
good vineyard sites exist. That certainly would be true if
the classification considered all grape varieties
including the very cold-tender ones (Table 1) often grown
in warm-climate areas such as California. However, if site
classification is limited to cold-tender and hardier
varieties (Table 1), winter minimum data for several
Michigan locations, Table 2(Vis. T2) can be used to define
and describe vineyard macroclimate classification
categories that range from excellent to unacceptable,
Table 3(Vis. T3). Those definitions have been used to
establish macroclimate vineyard site classifications for
the locations in Table 2 (Vis. T2)
and (Vis. 2).
Trends are evident in these classifications. All locations
in the Upper Peninsula are rated unacceptable for grape
production. Locations along the shore of Lake Michigan
have a good to excellent rating. The three locations in
the southeastern corner of the state are rated acceptable
to good. Locations in the central portion of the Lower
Peninsula and those in the northeastern portion of the
Lower Peninsula generally are rated unacceptable as sites
for vineyards. In general, sites for vineyards in Michigan
become more favorable as one progresses south and
approaches the Great Lakes shorelines.
Two macroclimate classification anomalies are worth
mentioning. The Traverse City location is rated
unacceptable, yet there are productive vineyards with
cold-tender varieties within this area. The explanation
for this apparent discrepancy is that the weather data
used for this classification were recorded at the Traverse
City Airport, which has a very flat, open exposure that
allows cold air to collect near the surface under clear,
calm conditions. In contrast, the Maple City location on
the Leelanau Peninsula has a good rating and is more
indicative of the macroclimate of the Leelanau and Old
Mission peninsulas. The Alma location in the central
portion of the Lower Peninsula has an acceptable rating
because of the relatively elevated, within-city location
of the station. The deviation of these two locations from
the statewide pattern indicates the importance of
mesoclimate at a given location.
Winter minimum temperature data may indicate a potential
vineyard site is unsuited for grape production. If vines
won't survive the winter, nothing else matters and no
further site evaluation is necessary. For example, winter
minimum temperatures at Ironwood in Michigan's Upper
Peninsula, Table 2 (Vis. T2), provide no hope for survival
of grapevines unless they were buried under snow. If
winter minimum temperatures suggest grape production is
feasible, they will also indicate hardiness categories of
varieties that are suited to that site, Table 3 (Vis. T3).
Growing Season Length
Grape varieties vary in the length of growing season they
require to mature quality grapes, but generally, a minimum
165-day growing season from the last freeze in the spring
to the first freeze in the fall will allow most grape
varieties grown in Michigan to ripen acceptably.
Macroclimatic patterns in growing season length
(Eichenlaub et al., 1990) help define the growing
conditions of a region. For example, the major fruit
production region along the Lake Michigan shoreline has a
growing season of 150 to 170 days. This is days or even
weeks longer than in locations inland. Good vineyard sites
along this shoreline require careful selection of
mesoclimates that have a growing season of 165 days or
more.
Spring Freeze Damage
Growing season length influences not only fruit maturity
but also another important aspect of grape production in a
cool climate - spring freezes. The tissues in grape nodes
(buds) that develop into shoots and clusters lose
hardiness when buds swell and open and shoots begin to
grow (Proebsting et al., 1978). Therefore, freezes in the
spring after vines have begun to grow severely threaten
grape production by killing shoots and clusters (Vis. 3).
The probability of such an occurrence increases as one
progresses southward and away from large bodies of water.
For example, the grape-producing region in the
southwestern corner of Michigan is more susceptible to
spring freezes than vineyards in the Traverse City area.
In fact, the grape crop in southwestern Michigan was
severely reduced by spring freezes in 11 out of 31 years
from 1960 to 1990 (Zabadal, 1991). Though the frequency of
spring freezes in Michigan has not changed appreciably
during the past 60 years, the frequency and magnitude of
early spring warm spells have increased, resulting in an
earlier break of dormancy and an increased risk of spring
freeze damage (Andresen and Harman, 1994).
(Vis. 3) Shoots on 'Concord' grapevines after a spring
freeze showing that most of the fruit potential of these
shoots has been lost.
Within a grape-producing region, the mesoclimate of a
specific vineyard site has a profound influence on
susceptibility to spring freezes. When air cools, it
becomes denser and heavier, and on clear, calm spring
nights, it flows down slopes somewhat like a liquid. Good
vineyard sites are typically located on sloping ground
because they export cold air (Vis. 4) down a slope.
Vineyards on flat ground must rely on convective air flow
or frost protection strategies such as wind machines or
irrigation to combat spring freeze episodes. Though grape
varieties differ slightly in their tissue tolerance to
freezing temperatures in the spring, the major difference
among varieties is their time of bud break (Howell, 1992).
Therefore, as the risk of spring freeze for a vineyard
site increases, the incentive to avoid planting early
bud-breaking varieties also increases.
(Vis. 4)Topography and adjacent vegetation influence the
susceptibility of a vineyard site to spring and fall
freeze damage.
Windbreaks or hedgerows uphill from a vineyard can prevent
cold air from higher elevations from entering a vineyard.
Windbreaks downslope can harmfully trap cold air in the
vineyard (Vis. 4).
Growing Season Heat Accumulation
The ability of a vineyard site to ripen a crop is
influenced not only by growing season length but also by
the heat experienced during that time. Heat summations for
various growing regions are measured and compared using
growing degree-days (GDD). The GDD concept relates to the
physiology of the grapevine, which does not become very
active until the ambient air temperature reaches about 50
degrees F. A common method for measuring GDD is to
calculate the daily mean temperature by averaging the high
and low temperatures for the day and then subtracting 50
degrees F. For example, a day with a high temperature of
80 degrees F and a low temperature of 60 degrees F would
have ((80 + 60)/2) - 50 = 20 GDD for that day. Most of the
viticultural regions of the world have been compared and
placed into five climatic regions according to their GDD
summation (Winkler et al., 1974). The coolest regions,
Climatic Region I, average 2,225 GDD. Locations in
Climatic Region II average 2,700 GDD. From April 1 to
October 31, the two principal viticultural regions in
Michigan, the Traverse City area and the southwestern
portion of the state, average 2,100 and 2,800 GDD,
respectively (Eichenlaub, 1990). Therefore, according to
the Winkler et al. (1974) classification, these
viticultural areas are in Climatic Regions I and II,
respectively.
The minimally acceptable level of growing season heat
accumulation for a vineyard site is 2,000 GDD. The closer
the macroclimate of a region approaches this value, the
more important mesoclimatic characteristics become. South
and west aspects are desirable for heat accumulation
because they have a more direct angle to the sun during
the middle and latter part of the day. Elevation also may
be a factor because air temperature will decrease
approximately 0.5 degrees F per 100 feet increase in
elevation. Large bodies of water immediately adjacent to
vineyards will also reduce heat accumulation during the
growing season. Sites with 1,800 GDD or fewer should not
be planted. On that basis, there is a 75 percent
probability of excluding 90 percent of the land area of
Michigan's Upper Peninsula in any specific year as a
suitable vineyard site because of inadequate GDD
(Eichenlaub et al., 1990).
Cropping History
Most sites to be considered for a vineyard will have some
history of cropping. Site preparation in response to prior
cropping history can be critical to the success of a new
vineyard and a significant vineyard establishment cost.
Therefore, cropping history should be considered a part of
the site selection process. Least serious are nutritional
matters. For example, land that has been used to grow
alfalfa is notorious for having low potassium availability
(Mendall, 1960), but the nutritional status of the site
can be readily determined and adjusted (see section IV,
"Preparing the Site").
Biological problems in the soil are more serious than
nutritional problems and may include viruses, nematodes,
phylloxera and crown gall. Vineyards planted on old
vineyard sites always require special management (see the
replanting section). Many good vineyard sites in
southwestern Michigan will have had a history of peach
production, which also complicates site preparation (see
"Replanting Sites With Cropping History").
Soil Characteristics
Though soil testing is often the first vineyard site
characteristic considered by a new grower, it is
unnecessary until the above-mentioned site requirements
are resolved.
Physical soil characteristics are often more limiting than
the soil chemistry. Vines grow best in deep, well drained
soils. The depth to which vines can establish roots is
important for anchoring as well as supplying water and
nutrients. Rooting depth will depend on soil aeration
because root tissues, like other tissues, require oxygen
to respire. Roots cannot develop in heavily compacted or
waterlogged soils.
Soil information for proposed vineyard sites is often
available in soil surveys published for each county by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Copies of this
publication may be available from the county offices of
the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (formerly
the Soil Conservation Service). Copies for viewing or loan
also may be available in libraries and Extension offices.
These publications include detailed mapping to identify
soil types for specific fields. They describe not only the
physical and chemical characteristics of each soil type
but also its suitability for various types of crops and
descriptions of the drainage classes of soils. Good
vineyard sites have soils that are at least moderately
well drained. Soils classified as somewhat poorly, poorly
or very poorly drained are also poor candidates for
vineyards.
Though grapevines are capable of rooting to a depth of
more than 20 feet (Seguin, 1972), vine roots typically are
concentrated in the upper 36 inches of the soil (Seguin,
1972) or even the upper 18 inches of soil (Perry et al.,
1983). Therefore, good vineyard sites are those with at
least moderately well drained soils that promote rooting
to a depth of at least 36 inches. If a vineyard site is
suitable except that the soil is imperfectly drained, it
is possible to improve soil internal drainage with drain
tiling (see section IV, "Preparing the Site"). However,
such a remedial measure often will not substitute
completely for soils with naturally good internal
drainage.
If soil survey descriptions are encouraging for a specific
site, then the grower should inspect the soil by digging
with a soil probe, shovel, posthole digger or backhoe.
Layers of soil impervious to rooting, high water tables
and other soil deficiencies can then be diagnosed. For
example, alternating reddish brown and gray areas of the
soil, called mottling, indicate the soil is imperfectly or
poorly drained. Michigan State University Extension
bulletin E-326, "A Guide for Land Judging in Michigan"
(D.L. Mokma et al., 1982), explains the basic physical
properties of soil.
The level of soil acidity is the most important aspect of
soil chemistry in evaluating a vineyard site because
several tons of lime per acre might be required to adjust
soil acidity. This might contribute significantly to the
cost of vineyard establishment (see "Soil Chemistry").
II. Designing a Vineyard
When a site is considered suitable for a vineyard, a
design or vineyard layout must be developed. Factors that
influence vineyard design include the grape varieties to
be grown; the characteristics of the vineyard site,
including its dimensions, topography, variations in soil
type and equipment access to the site; the type of
equipment that will be used to operate the vineyard; the
type of trellis that will be constructed; and matters of
personal preference. The following topics require
consideration.
Row Orientation
As the sun travels through a southern arc in the summer
sky of the northern hemisphere, vineyard rows in a
north/south orientation provide for the best sunlight
interception by grapevine canopies. Therefore, when all
other factors are equal, this vineyard row orientation is
preferred. However, some situations justify an east/west
row orientation, which also can be highly productive.
These include planting on north- or south-facing slopes so
that east/west-oriented rows run across the slope, thus
controlling soil erosion, and planting efficient, long
east/west-oriented rows rather than numerous, short
north/south-oriented rows.
Row Length
Vineyard row length in most cool-climate vineyards is
limited to about 1,000 feet because the tension developed
along the entire length of the trellis must be transferred
to an end post anchoring system. Shorter rows are often
preferable because they provide easy access to vines for
manual tasks, and undulating topography may dictate
logical places to end rows. Row lengths from 300 to 600
feet are common in Michigan vineyards. Extremely short
rows make it difficult to maintain tension on trellis
wires. In such situations, springs in line with wires
(Vis. 5) or wire-tightening devices that can readily
tighten wires in the spring and release tension in the
fall are helpful.
(Vis. 5) This spring in a trellis wire absorbs changes in
the tension of the wire due to temperature changes or crop
load so that the wire itself does not exceed its yield
point to become irreversibly stretched.
Row Spacing
Vineyard row width should have not less than a 1:1 ratio
with the height of the trellis (Smart, 1985). Otherwise,
the lower portion of the trellis will be shaded. Because
vineyard trellises are typically 5.5 to 6 feet tall, it is
theoretically possible to establish vineyard rows on these
spacings. Most commercial vineyard equipment in the United
States cannot operate between or over such narrow rows,
however. Therefore, equipment width often dictates
vineyard row width, which in Michigan vineyards ranges
from 7 to 10 feet. Most new vineyards are being planted on
8-, 8.5- or 9-foot row spacings, with the narrower
spacings made possible by relatively new vineyard tractors
that are approximately 60 inches wide and have 70- to
75-horsepower ratings.
Vine Spacing
The appropriate distance between vines in the vineyard row
is influenced by two opposing factors. Trellises full of
functional grapevine leaves are the basis for a highly
productive vineyard. Therefore, vines should be spaced
close enough so their leaf canopies efficiently use the
entire trellis. However, the closer vines are spaced, the
greater the risk of excessive vine canopy development,
fruit shading and reduced fruit quality. The ideal
grapevine canopy exploits the entire trellis with one to 1
1/2 layers of leaves (Smart and Robinson, 1991). Research
indicates that vines with 0.3 to 0.4 pounds of cane
prunings per foot of row typically have such a canopy.
Because vine vigor is influenced by numerous factors -
including choice of variety, choice of rootstock,
characteristics of the vineyard site and many aspects of
grower vine management - no standard vine spacing is
applicable to all situations. Some Michigan vineyards that
were planted with native American varieties on 8-foot
spacing have adequate vine canopies, but many do not.
Therefore, a vine spacing of 7 feet often would be more
productive. Typical vine spacings for the interspecific
hybrid and Vitis vinifera varieties are 7 and 6 feet,
respectively. Accelerated vineyard establishment through
high-density plantings with vine spacings as close as 4
feet poses a question about long-term benefits. The merits
of this approach have been questionable in other
viticultural areas (Smart and Robinson, 1991). Additional
years of grower experience and research will be required
to resolve the suitability of high-density plantings for
Michigan vineyards.
Headlands, Access Roads and Alleyways
A portion of a vineyard site will be unplantable because
it is needed for the movement of people and equipment.
Headlands, the open areas at the ends of vineyard rows,
need to be wide enough to accommodate both end post
anchoring systems placed external to the end post and
convenient turnaround space for equipment. A minimum
headland width of 30 feet is recommended. Placement of
access roads often will be dictated by the nature of the
vineyard site. They are often located on the edges of the
vineyard between the outside vineyard row and a hedgerow
rather than using more valuable space in the middle of the
field. Alleyways are systematic breaks in what would
otherwise be long, continuous rows in a vineyard.
Twenty-foot-wide alleyways are common. Topographic
depressions often are natural places to create alleyways.
It may also be necessary to reserve some land as a staging
area (Vis. 6) for equipment, where trucks, forklifts,
etc., operate to load grapes or where a water truck and
other components of a portable spray shed are situated.
Determining the need for such an equipment staging area is
part of the vineyard design process.
(Vis. 6) This staging area for equipment was part of the
vineyard design. Otherwise, there would be no place near
the vineyard to load grapes on trucks at harvest.
Preliminary Layout of the Vineyard
When the above components of a vineyard design have been
resolved, it is time to stake the preliminary layout for
the vineyard. Materials required are stakes, a sledge
hammer, a measuring tape and/or measuring wheel (Vis. 7),
a writing tablet on a clipboard and flagging tape. A crew
of at least two should stake areas that will be designated
for planting, headlands, access roads, alleyways,
equipment staging areas, etc. In the most simple design,
establish the location of the four corner end posts of a
rectangular planting (Vis. 8). The more irregular the
site, the more complex the process becomes. As you place
stakes in the ground, make a rough sketch to record
distances and directions between stakes. This field sketch
will be the basis of mapping and calculating how many
vines are required for planting.
(Vis. 7) This measuring wheel is used to easily measure
distances for making a vineyard sketch. It records on a
counter in the handle the number of rotations of the wheel
as it is rolled along the ground. Each rotation is 6.6
feet.
(Vis. 8) Schematic drawing of a field to be planted to a
vineyard in two rectangular areas. The combined area of
the two sections equals 4.23 acres.
Mapping the Vineyard
When all the components of the vineyard design have been
determined, it is time to map the vineyard. A simple
sketch on a sheet of paper may suffice. The larger the
vineyard operation and the more people involved with
various vineyard tasks, the more valuable a scaled,
detailed map of various vineyard blocks will become.
Computer-assisted drawings (CAD) of vineyards gradually
are replacing drafting of maps on graph paper. At our
horticultural research farm, we generate an overview map
of all vineyard blocks on a cover page that identifies
individual vineyard blocks. Each vineyard block is then
mapped in detail on succeeding pages. Vineyard maps should
include a system for numbering rows and indicating where
varieties change and where sod waterways, diversion
ditches, soil tiling systems and irrigation systems are
located.
After the vineyard has been planted and the trellis
installed, row numbers should be placed on the end posts,
preferably at both ends of the vineyard row, and the
vineyard map should accordingly be updated. This makes it
easier to communicate vineyard tasks such as placement of
picking boxes or repair of wires. Placing numbers on posts
may be challenging. Permanent markers and paint are not
durable. Stains that penetrate wooden posts are somewhat
better. Pieces of plastic with embossed numbers work well.
Some vineyard operations use an embossing machine that
imprints numbers on a metal tape (Vis. 9). It also may be
useful to number line posts so that individual vines can
be identified by a three-number system. For example,
14-4-2 would mean row 14, post space 4 and vine 2 within
that post space. Whatever system is chosen, make a
vineyard map that can be copied readily and distributed.
(Vis. 9) The numbers embossed on this metal tape indicate
that the post is at row 53 and post space 3 of the
vineyard.
III. Obtaining Grapevines for Planting
Vines may need to be ordered as much as one or two years
in advance of planting. Therefore, make a plan for
obtaining grapevines even before site preparation has
begun.
Selecting Varieties
The choice of grape varieties to be planted is influenced
not only by the market outlook for the crop but also by
the characteristics of the vineyard site and personal
preference. Several reference materials to assist growers
with their selection of grape varieties are listed in
Appendix A.
Number of Vines Required for Planting
The number of grapevines required for a new planting is
determined by measuring the area to be planted. That
information will have been obtained when the preliminary
layout, sketching and mapping of the vineyard were done.
Exclude areas to be used for headlands, alleyways and
access roads. If the planting is oddly shaped, stake out
and measure several subareas to be planted. Add together
areas to be planted to determine the total area. For
example, the vineyard layout in (Vis. 8) consists of two
rectangular areas that measure 400 by 198 and 300 by 350
feet. The total area of these two sections is 184,200
square feet. Dividing that by the area of one acre (43,560
square feet) indicates there are 4.23 acres to be planted.
The number of vines required per acre of vineyard can be
determined by multiplying the chosen row and vine spacings
in feet and then dividing 43,560 by that value. For
example, if row and vine spacings of 9 and 6 feet were
chosen, respectively, then the land area required per vine
would be 9 x 6 = 54 square feet. Dividing that value into
43,560 indicates that 807 vines will be required to plant
an acre of vineyard. Planting vines at this spacing on the
4.23 acres of vineyard in (Vis. 8) would require 4.23 x
807 = 3,414 vines. For convenience, the number of vines
per acre for a range of row and vine spacings is presented
in Table 4.
Table 4. Area per vine and vines per acre for several row
and vine spacing combinations.
Area per Vines
vine in per
Row x vine spacing (ft) square feet acre
10 x 8 80 544
10 x 7 70 622
10 x 6 60 726
9 x 8 72 605
9 x 7 63 691
9 x 6 54 807
9 x 5 45 968
8.5 x 8 68 641
8.5 x 7 59.5 732
8.5 x 6 51 854
8 x 8 64 681
8 x 7 56 778
8 x 6 48 908
8 x 5 40 1,089
In the second year of a vineyard, it is often necessary to
replant a small percentage of vines that did not grow well
or at all. If one anticipates difficulty in obtaining such
replacement vines, consider ordering 1 to 2 percent more
vines than necessary for the initial planting. These extra
vines can be placed in a nursery or at half-spacing in a
corner of the vineyard so they will be readily available
the following spring. Adjust the shoot numbers on these
replacement vines to a maximum of four after growth has
begun to ensure that well developed shoots will mature
into strong, hardy canes.
Propagation
A grower may propagate his own vines. This is done rarely
for grafted vines but occasionally for self-rooted vines.
Propagation typically utilizes hardwood cuttings from
mature vines. Propagation of high-quality vines is
certainly possible if careful attention is paid to all the
steps in the process. These steps are: collecting canes
from healthy, mature vines early in the winter; pruning
canes into two- to four-node cuttings that range from 10
to 15 inches in length; bundling and storing cuttings so
they are kept cool, moist and free from storage molds;
preparing a nursery bed; planting cuttings when the top
several inches of soil have warmed to at least 50 degrees
F; maintaining the nursery in a weed-free, well watered
condition throughout the growing season (Vis. 10);
maintaining developing vines in a healthy condition, free
from disease and insect problems; digging vines either in
late fall and storing them under refrigeration or in the
following spring before growth begins; grading vines so
that only those that have developed large, branched root
systems are used; and keeping vines cool, moist and
dormant until planting. Details of this process are
available from Michigan State University Extension.
(Vis. 10) Self-rooted vines being grown in a nursery that
is kept weed-free by planting cuttings through plastic
mulch.
Purchasing Vines
When purchasing vines from a commercial nursery, seek
written certification of their trueness to variety,
freedom from viral diseases, and terms of refund or
replacement. In the years ahead, grapevines also will be
certified to be free of the bacterium causing crown gall.
Vines often are placed in grades of declining quality
indicated by the designations 1-year extra, 1-year #1 and
1-year medium. Vines graded 2-year #1 have been grown in
the nursery for two years and may or may not be of high
quality. These grades are applied by the individual
nursery and do not represent a standardized grading system
across the industry. Generally speaking, grades indicate
vine quality in regard to the amount of root system and
the extent of branching of that root system. However, the
application of a grade to vines is no guarantee of their
true quality.
The choice of rootstocks for grafted vines is a major
consideration before ordering. Information on that topic
is provided in references listed in Appendix A. Some
nurseries sell their vines after they have been root
pruned. Vines that have been root pruned prior to planting
often will not perform as well as those with their root
systems left intact.
The demand for grapevines varies considerably by variety
and year. Ordering vines a few months or weeks before
planting may be hazardous. Order vines at least one year
prior to planting. Sources of grapevines for wine grape
and juice production are listed in Appendix A. Sources of
table grape varieties are listed in Extension bulletin
E-2642, "Table Grape Varieties for Michigan" by Zabadal
et al.
IV. Preparing the Site
Vines with vigorous growth from their time of planting
will be more tolerant than weak-growing vines of stresses
such as drought, nutrient deficiencies, disease, insects,
premature cropping and low winter temperatures. Site
preparation should ensure vigorous early growth of vines.
Proper site preparation is not a last-minute detail
performed just prior to planting and should definitely not
be delayed until after planting as a "catch-up" effort.
Vines that have poor early growth often will respond
slowly to corrective measures. Site preparation is best
undertaken at least one year prior to planting. Prepare
the vineyard site first and then plant it!
Weed Control
Weed control is the single most important factor in
vineyard site preparation. Ironically, it is often also
the most poorly managed part of site preparation. Any
plant growth within a 5-foot radius of a newly planted
grapevine may reduce the growth of the vine. A common
problem is that the perennial plants we desire to grow
(grapevines) are often planted among other perennial
plants (weeds). When that happens, control of those weeds
becomes very difficult. Therefore, eradicate all perennial
weeds on the vineyard site before planting vines.
Cropping the vineyard site for one or more years before
planting vines can greatly reduce perennial weed
populations. If corn is grown on a vineyard site,
carefully choose the herbicides used and their rates so
there will be no herbicide carryover when vines are
planted. When the field has been used to produce hay or
consists of perennial weed growth, a late summer mowing
followed by an early fall glyphosate application will
control many perennial weed problems (Vis. 11). If a
heavy sod poses a problem for tillage the following
spring, rough-plowing in the fall will allow freeze-thaw
cycles to break up clumps. Do not completely plow and disk
a field in the fall because the soil may erode in the
winter. Buckwheat sown on heavy ground not only suppresses
perennial weed populations but also helps loosen heavy
clay soil.
(Vis. 11) This vineyard site was sprayed with glyphosate
in the fall to kill perennial plants and then left in that
condition over the winter in preparation for planting in
the spring.
Rye is a common cover crop. It should not be allowed to
grow very high in the spring when vines will be planted
because a tall stand of rye makes plowing, disking and
planting difficult.
If control of perennial weeds on the vineyard site has
been ignored in the one or two growing seasons before
planting, one can follow a much less desirable "catch-up"
approach: delay tilling the soil in the spring when vines
will be planted. Wait until weed growth greens up - i.e.,
about the time vine growth begins - then make an
application of a non-selective, systemic herbicide such as
glyphosate, wait 48 hours, and then begin tillage
operations.
A last-minute decision to plant vines in the late spring
on a site with considerable perennial weeds is hazardous.
It would often be better to delay planting for a year and
use that time to prepare the site properly.
Tree/Shrub Removal
Remove all woody plants from the site. Vines require full
sun to produce quality fruit. Solitary trees in the midst
of a vineyard are potential roosting sites for feathered
intruders on your grape crop. It is especially important
to remove hedgerows downhill from a vineyard when spring
or fall freezes are a concern (Vis. 4).
Soil Erosion Control Measures
Vineyards in cool climates such as Michigan's are highly
susceptible to soil erosion because they typically are
situated on sloping ground to minimize spring/fall freeze
hazards. One acre-inch of rain is 27,154 gallons of water.
Runoff patterns during episodal heavy rains can
concentrate many thousands of gallons of water into a
highly erosive force. Very large quantities of soil can be
lost. Just 1 acre-inch of soil weighs approximately 170
tons. Even in relatively young vineyards (4 to 6 years
old), it is possible to find highly eroded soils with root
systems protruding several inches from the soil. Topsoil
is a key vineyard resource, both as a nutrient reservoir
and for its water-holding capacity. Therefore, planning
and implementing soil erosion control measures before
planting vines is critically important to the long-term
productivity of the vineyard. Strategies to control
surface drainage on vineyard sites include diversion
ditches to intercept water from uphill areas, sod
waterways to channel water safely through vineyard areas,
standpipes to drain depression areas through underground
tiling, hilling soil under trellises and various patterns
of permanent sod strips. Remedial efforts to correct soil
erosion problems after the vineyard is planted are often
more difficult, more costly and less effective than those
performed during site preparation.
Soil Internal Drainage
Evaluation of the vineyard site during site selection may
reveal the need to improve the internal drainage of the
soil. If the problem is an impervious layer of soil that
perches water above it, then deep ripping or plowing of
the soil may be a suitable corrective measure. However, if
the soil texture and topography create generally poor
internal soil drainage, tiling may be the solution. A well
conceived soil drainage plan covers not only the vineyard
site but also the surrounding acreage. Expertise for such
planning may be available from soil conservationists and
companies that install drain tiling. Vineyard problems
resulting from inadequate internal soil drainage include
reduced accessibility by equipment, small vine size,
reduced productivity and increased hazard of winter injury
to vines.
Soil Chemistry
Two aspects of soil chemistry require attention during
site preparation. The first is potassium status. Michigan
State University recommends that soils to be planted for a
vineyard have a minimum potassium level of 200 lb/acre
(Hanson, 1996). A soil test will indicate if potassium
fertilization is necessary. Soil sampling procedures are
described in Michigan State University Extension bulletin
E-498 (Shickluna and Robertson, 1988). A large percentage
of the potassium in soils is tightly bound to soil
particles and unavailable for plant growth. Therefore,
apply potassium fertilizer in strips along vine rows to
increase efficiency of fertilizer utilization.
Soil acidity also should be checked during site
preparation (Shickluna and Robertson, 1988). Many
nutrients in the soil are most available for uptake when
the soil is relatively neutral - i.e., it has a pH of
about 7.0 (Christenson et al., 1983). Therefore, most
crops grow better when relatively acid soils are
neutralized with lime. However, a few crops, including the
three types of fruit native to North America -
cranberries, blueberries and grapes - grow well under acid
conditions. For example, the native American grape variety
'Concord' can be highly productive on acid soils. Excess
liming of 'Concord' grapes can be harmful (Smith et al.,
1972). Therefore, when necessary, vineyard sites to be
planted to native American varieties should be limed to
raise soil pH to 5.5. Vineyards to be planted to
interspecific hybrids and Vitis vinifera varieties should
be limed, when necessary, to raise soil pH to 6.5. Liming
is discussed in Michigan State University Extension
bulletin E-471, "Lime for Michigan Soils" (Christenson et
al., 1983). Lime should be applied and plowed/disked into
the soil profile as deeply as possible during site
preparation.
Irrigation
Irrigation may be used to protect vines from spring
freezes (Vis. 12) or to provide supplemental watering of
vines during the growing season. Overhead irrigation for
frost is being used successfully at the Southwest Michigan
Research and Extension Center. It requires close
monitoring during freeze episodes, adequate rates of water
application to generate sufficient heat of fusion as water
freezes on tissues, uniform distribution of irrigation on
the vines and continuous irrigation until ice on the vines
is obviously melting.
(Vis. 12) Overhead irrigation being used to protect a
'Chardonnay' vineyard from a spring freeze in southwest
Michigan. Shoots were 1 to 3 inches long.
Experience with drip irrigation in Michigan vineyards
indicates that it may be cost effective during the first
two years of the vineyard providing that other aspects of
good vine management are undertaken. However, the cost
effectiveness of irrigation in mature Michigan vineyards
is uncertain. Yield increases in mature Michigan vineyards
from irrigation have been documented, but the value of the
additional crop may not justify the expense of installing
and operating an irrigation system.
If irrigation is considered for a new vineyard, then
planning the location of main lines, manifolds, control
systems, electrical requirements, etc., should take place
during site preparation. If irrigation is to be installed,
the system should be in place when it is most likely to be
cost effective - i.e., the first two years of the
vineyard.
Replanting Sites with Cropping History
If a vineyard site has a crop history, additional site
preparation may be necessary. Planting grapes after grapes
is the greatest concern. The so-called "grape replant
problem" is not fully understood. Nevertheless, steps can
be taken to minimize the risk of poor vine development.
Take soil samples near vine root systems for nematode
analysis, then fumigate as necessary. Kill vine root
systems when an old vineyard is removed by applying
glyphosate to vines in abandoned vineyards in late summer
or immediately after harvest in a cropping vineyard.
Research has shown that crown gall can exist on dead vine
tissues for several years (Burr et al., 1995). Therefore,
remove as much vine tissue from the site as possible.
Fallow the site a minimum of one and up to three growing
seasons. Consider using phylloxera-resistant rootstocks
for all varieties when replanting after one year of
fallow. Plant new vineyard rows so they are not directly
on top of the old ones. Grow new vines aggressively with
good weed control, fertilization and pest control.
A potential problem also exists if the vineyard site has a
history of peach production. Certain grape varieties are
susceptible to peach rosette mosaic virus (PRMV),
including the native American grape varieties 'Concord'
and 'Catawba', certain interspecific hybrids such as
'Aurore', 'Baco Noir' and 'Vidal blanc', and several
rootstocks (Ramsdell, 1988). Examine peach trees for
evidence of PRMV before they are removed. Collect samples
of soil near tree roots for nematode analysis to determine
the concentration of dagger nematodes, which transmit this
virus. Nematode analysis may indicate a need for soil
fumigation.
After the site has been prepared properly, it is ready for
planting. Planting and management of early vine growth are
discussed in the companion, Extension bulletin E-2645,
"Vineyard Establishment II: Planting and Early Care of
Grapevines in Michigan Vineyards."
Appendix A:
Grape varieties, rootstocks and sources of grapevines
Selecting Wine Grape Varieties for Planting
Bordelon, B. 1995. Grape varieties for Indiana. Bul.
HO-221. West Lafayette, Ind.: Purdue University.
Cahoon, G., M. Ellis, R. Williams and L. Lockshin. 1991.
Grapes: Production, management and marketing. Bul. 815.
Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State University.
Cattell, H., and H.L. Stauffer. 1978. The wines of the
east: I. The hybrids. Lancaster, Pa.: L.C.H.
Photojournalism.
Cattell, H., and L.S. Miller. 1979. The wines of the east:
II. The vinifera. Lancaster, Pa.: L.C.H. Photojournalism.
Cattell, H., and L.S. Miller. 1989. The wines of the east.
III: The native American grapes. Lancaster, Pa.: L.C.H.
Photojournalism.
Elfing, D.C., A. Dale, K.H. Fisher, N. Miles and G.
Tehrani. 1992. Fruit cultivars: A guide to commercial
growers. Pub RV-5-92. St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada:
Ontario Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Howell, G.S., D.P. Miller and T.J. Zabadal. 1997. Wine
grape varieties for Michigan. Bul. E-2643. East Lansing,
Mich.: Michigan State University.
Reisch, B.I., R.M. Pool, D.V. Peterson, M.H. Martens and
T. Henick-Kling. 1993. Wine and juice grape varieties for
cool climates. I.B. 233. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University.
Wolf, T.K., and E.B. Poling. 1995. The mid-Atlantic wine
grape grower's guide. Raleigh, N.C.: North Carolina State
University.
Selecting Rootstocks
Howell, G.S., D.P. Miller and T.J. Zabadal. 1997. Wine
grape varieties for Michigan. Bul. E-2643. East Lansing,
Mich.: Michigan State University.
Sources of Grapevines for Wine Grape Production
Reference to nurseries on this list does not imply
endorsement by Michigan State University or bias against
those not mentioned.
Bailey Nurseries, Inc. - 1325 Bailey Road, St. Paul, MN
55119. Phone: 800-829-8898
Bear Creek Nursery - P.O. Box 411, Northport, WA 99157.
Concord Nurseries, Inc. - 10175 Mile Block Road, North
Collins, NY 14111-9770. Phone: 800-223-2211
Congdon & Weller Wholesale Nursery - Mile Block Road,
North Collins, NY 14111. Phone: 716-337-0171
L. E. Cooke Co. - 26333 Road 140, Visalia, CA 93292.
Phone: 800-845-5193
Double A Vineyards - 10275 Christy Road, Fredonia, NY
14063. Phone: 716-672-8493
Euro Nursery - 3197 Culp Road, Jordan, Ontario, Canada
LOR1SO. Phone: 905-562-3312
Evergreen Nursery - 17 Southwinds Circle, Suite 7,
Washington, MO 63090. Phone: 314-390-2301
Grafted Grapevine Nursery - 2399 Wheat Road, Clifton
Springs, NY 14432. Phone: 315-462-3288
Gurney's Seed & Nursery Co. - 110 Capital Street, Yankton,
SD 57079. Phone: 605-665-1930
Indiana Berry & Plant Co. - 5218 W. 500 South,
Huntingburg, IN 47542. Phone: 800-295-2226
J.W. Jung Seed Co. - 335 S. High Street, Randolph, WI
53957-0001. Phone: 800-247-5864
Lake Sylvia Vineyard Nursery - 13775 51st Avenue, South
Haven, MN 55382.
Miller Nurseries - 5060 West Lake Road, Canandaigua, NY
14424. Phone: 800-836-9630
Mori Nursery - RR 2, Niagara on the Lake, ON, LOS 1J0
Canada. Phone: 416-468-3218
Pense Nursery - 16518 Marie Lane, Mountainburg, AR 72946.
Phone: 501-369-2494
Rambo's Wholesale Nursery - 10495 Baldwin Road, Bridgman,
MI 49106. Phone: 616-465-6771
Sonoma Grapevines Inc. - 1919 Dennis Lane, Santa Rosa, CA
95403. Phone: 707-542-5510
Turnbull Nursery, Inc. - 10036 Versailles Plank Road,
North Collins, NY 14111. Phone: 716-337-3812
References
Andresen, J.A., and J.R. Harman. 1994. Springtime freezes
in western lower Michigan: Climatology and trends. Res.
rpt. 536. East Lansing, Mich.: Michigan State University
Agricultural Experiment Station.
Bordelon, B. 1997. Economics of midwestern grape
production. In Midwest Viticulture Handbook. Benton
Harbor, Mich.: Michigan State University.
Burr, T.J., C.L. Reid, M. Yoshimura, E.A. Momol and C.
Bazzi. 1995. Survival and tumorigenicity of Agrobacterium
vitis in living and decaying grape roots and canes in
soil. Plant Dis., 79:677-682.
Christenson, D.R., D.D. Warncke and R. Leep. 1983. Lime
for Michigan soils. Bul. E-471. East Lansing, Mich.:
Michigan State University Extension.
Cross, T., and T. Casteel. 1992. Vineyard Economics: The
costs of establishing and producing wine grapes in the
Willamette Valley. In Oregon Wine Grape Grower's Guide, T.
Casteel (ed.). Portland, Ore.: Oregon Winegrower's Assoc.
Eichenlaub, V.L., J.R. Harman, F.V. Nurnberger and H.J.
Stolle. 1990. The climatic atlas of Michigan. Notre Dame,
Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press.
Geiger, R. 1957. The climate near the ground. Cambridge,
Mass.: Harvard University Press.
Hanson, E. 1996. Fertilizing Fruit Crops. Bul. E-852. East
Lansing, Mich.: Michigan State University.
Howell, G.S. 1992. Spring frost injury: Factors that
influence damage to developing grape buds. Vintage and
Vineyard View, 7(3):5-8.
Jordan, T.D., R.M. Pool, T.J. Zabadal and J.P. Tomkins.
1981. Cultural practices for commercial vineyards.
Miscellaneous bul. 111. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University.
Kelsey, M.P., T.M. Thomas, W.C. Search and U. Kniese.
1989. Cost of producing 'Concord' grapes in southwestern
Michigan. Ext. bul. E-2189. East Lansing, Mich.: Michigan
State University.
Kissler, J.J. 1983. Preplanting decisions in establishing
a vineyard. California Extension Fact Sheet. Stockton,
Calif.: California Extension Service.
Mendall, S.C. 1960. The planting and care of young
vineyards in the Finger Lakes area of New York state.
Hammondsport, N.Y.: Taylor Wine Co.
Mokma, D.L., E. Dersch and D.S. Shaner. 1982. A guide for
land judging in Michigan. Bul. E-326. East Lansing, Mich.:
Michigan State University.
Perry, R.L., S.D. Lyda and H.H. Bowen. 1983. Root
distribution of four Vitis cultivars. Plant and Soil,
71:63-74.
Proebsting, E.L., V.P. Brommund and W.J. Clore. 1978.
Critical temperatures for 'Concord' grapes. Bul. EM4330.
Pullman, Wash.: Washington State University.
Ramsdell, D.C. 1988. Peach Rosette Mosaic decline. In:
R.C. Pearson and A.C. Goheen (eds.), Compendium of grape
diseases. St. Paul, Minn.: American Phytopathological
Society.
Seguin, M.G. 1972. Repartition dans l'espace du systeme
rediculaire de la vigne. Comp. Rendus. Acad. Sci. Paris,
274:D2178-2180.
Shickluna, J.C., and L.S. Robertson. 1988. Sampling soils
for fertilizer and lime recommendations. Bul. E-498. East
Lansing, Mich.: Michigan State University.
Smart, R.E. 1985. Climate canopy microclimate, vine
physiology and wine quality. In Proceedings of the
International Cool Climate Viticulture and Enology
Symposium, Eugene, Ore.
Smart, R., and M. Robinson. 1991. Sunlight into wine: A
handbook for wine grape canopy management. Adelaide,
Australia: Winetitles.
Smith, C.B., H.K. Fleming, L.T. Kardos and C.W. Haesler.
1972. Response of 'Concord' grapevines to lime and
potassium. Bul. 785. University Park, Pa.: Pennsylvania
State University.
Varden, D.H., and T.K. Wolfe. 1994. The cost of growing
wine grapes in Virginia. Virginia Cooperative Extension
Publication 463-006. Blacksburg, Va.: Virginia
Polytechnical Institute and State University.
Walker, Larry. 1995. Vineyard development: what's the
cost? Wines and Vines, June 1995, pp. 22-27.
Winkler, A.J., J.A. Cook, W.M. Kliewer and L.A. Lider.
1974. General viticulture. Berkeley, Calif.: University of
California Press.
Zabadal, T.J. 1991. Does mechanization mean more profit
for growers? Annual Report of the Michigan State
Horticultural Society, pp. 125-127. East Lansing, Mich.:
Michigan State University.
Zabadal, T.J. 1997. Vineyard Establishment II - Planting
and Early Care of Vineyards. Bul. E-2645. East Lansing,
Mich.: Michigan State University.
Other Extension bulletins in this series:
E-2642, Table Grape Varieties for Michigan
http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/modfr/26429701.html
E-2643, Wine Grape Varieties for Michigan
http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/modfr/26439701.html
E-2645, Vineyard Establishment II: Planting and Early Care
of Vineyards
http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/modfr/26459701.html
For copies of these titles or a catalog of available
publications, contact your county Extension office (listed
under GOVERNMENT in the white pages of your phone book) or
the MSU Bulletin Office, 10-B Agriculture Hall, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1039
(fax: 517-353-7168).
MSU is an Affirmative-Action Equal-Opportunity
Institution. MSU Extension programs are open to all
without regard to race, color, national origin, sex,
disability, age or religion.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in
agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8, and June
30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. Arlen Leholm, Director, Michigan State
University Extension, E. Lansing, MI 48824.
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