Growing Grapes in WV - West Virginia Department of Agriculture

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HarvestingGrapes should be picked whenthe fruit reaches the desired ripenessfor its intended purpose. Asthe fruit ripens, the color changes,the sugars increase and the acidsdecrease. The timing will vary fromyear to year. Berries should besampled daily as the harvest approachesto determine sugar, acidand pH. To sample, randomly collect100 to 200 representative berriesfor each cultivar. Acids decreaserapidly under warm conditions andfruit quality can change rapidly.To harvest the grapes a grapeknife or harvesting shears are used.Hold the grapes with one hand andcut with a rapid upward cut awayfrom your hands and arms to preventinjury. Hand shears are saferbut are slower and more difficult touse. Do not jerk or pull clusters fromthe vine as this will crush some ofthe fruit. Discard all green, immatureor diseased fruit. Gently placethe fruit into harvesting lugsor boxes and handle as littleas possible. Take the containersinto the shade as soon aspossible to reduce fruit temperatures.Grapes should be takento the winery the same day theyare picked.Grapes will keep severalweeks after maturity on the vineor if picked and stored in a verycool, dry, well-ventilated place.As long as there is no droppingof the berries it is best to leavethe crop on the vines and pickas the market demands. Unlessweather is rainy, there will be nodeterioration. If well-protectedby foliage, grapes will standcold weather (but not a frost).However, birds and bees molestingthe crop must be consideredin the decision as to whether ornot the mature crop is left on thevine.Pest ManagementBirds are common problems in Shotguns are one methodvineyards. They may eat the entire of controlling birds, howeverberry or damage the fruit by clawing many birds are protected by law.or pecking. The severity of damage Gas exploders and electronicis related to cultivar, degree of ripeness,amount of foliage hiding the orchard frequently, have simi-noisemakers, if moved about thefruit and proximity to bird roosting lar effects. Other scare devicessites. Small isolated vineyards with such as hawk kits, scare eyes,early ripening cultivars are the most distress tapes and bird bombssusceptible to damage. Monitor bird can be used in combination withdamage as the fruit begin to change gas cannons to improve theircolor. Early detection is critical in effectiveness. Bird netting is thecontrol efforts. Many systems are most effective method for controllingbirds, but is expensive andavailable to control birds, but noneis completely successful.cumbersome.-18-
DeerIn areas with adjacent woodlands,deer can cause significant damage tothe vines and foliage. Many repellentshave been tried, but none iscompletely successful. Fencing is themost effective method of keeping deerout of the vineyard. There are severalfence design alternatives from lowcost electric spider fences, to 6 wireelectric fences or 8-foot high or highernonelectric fences. See “Deer and Agriculturein West Virginia,” Publication809-810, for more information.DiseasesBlack rot (Guignardia bidwellii)is the most important diseaseof grapes in West Virginia. Thefungus attacks the leaves, stemand tendrils in the spring. Earlysymptoms of the disease are smallbrown or black spots that cause noserious damage and are seldomnoticed. Later the fungus spreads tothe fruit, where it is still not noticeableuntil the berries are about halfgrown. Between this period and fruitripening the severity of the diseaseincreases very rapidly and the fruitfinally turns black and shrivels. Thedisease overwinters in those shriveledberries (mummies) and on thedead tendrils and canes, so theseshould be removed and destroyedat pruning time. Careful spraying willkeep this disease under control.Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) is theother major fungus that will attackfruit. Infection first occurs duringflowering and is not apparent untillater in the season. Single berrieswill turn brown and rot. Sporemasses are a characteristic graythat will cover the affected area.Sporulation is enhanced by rain,-19-free moisture on the berries andhigh humidity (above 92%). Thefungus will not grow at temperaturesabove 94oF. The fungus overwintersin the infected berries or clustersand spores are spread by air aftermoist weather in the spring. Botrytisis best controlled by an integratedprogram. Reduce overwinteringinoculum by removing grape mummiesat pruning and discing themunder. Fungicides at bloom timeare most effective. Vines shouldnot be sprinkler irrigated once thefruit begin to ripen to avoid moistureon the berries. An open canopythat allows air circulation will alsokeep fruit drier and reduce infectionconditions.Powdery mildew and other fungusdiseases are controlled by fungicidesapplied at regular intervals.InsectsThe grape leafhopper (Erythroneuraspp.) is a small, light-green,sucking insect that can be found inalmost all vineyards from late Mayand early June until fall. Adults havered, yellow or black markings andoverwinter in dead grass, underleaves, or in rubbish piles. Theyemerge as soon as it is warm inthe spring. They live on strawberry,blackberry, and raspberry leavesuntil the grape leaves open. Theysuck the sap through the lowersurface of the leaves and causesmall, pale spots to appear. Whenthe insects are numerous, the leafhas a mottled appearance and mayeventually dry up and fall. Cleaningup rubbish piles and spraying willhelp control this pest.The grape berry moth (Endopizeviteana Clemens) is theworm usually found when grapes
Page 1: Growing GrapesIN WEST VIRGINIAW e s
Page 4 and 5: Locating the VineyardProper site an
Page 6 and 7: Table 2. The expected ten-year freq
Page 8 and 9: for filling in vacancies in anestab
Page 10 and 11: or medium vineyard is to use awire
Page 12 and 13: weeds controlled with herbicides.Th
Page 14 and 15: 1. The fruit is borne onshoots prod
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Page 22 and 23: are wormy at harvest time. It is ad
Page 24 and 25: Table 3. Summary of grape cultivar
Page 26 and 27: Table3C. Wine CultivarsProductivity
Page 28 and 29: Appendicesw Weather stations are of
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Page 32 and 33: Appendix 1b. continuedw x y zStatio
Page 34 and 35: Appendix 1c. continuedStations w x

Growing Grapes in WV - West Virginia Department of Agriculture

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