Cultural Practices
In the world of grapes, the term 'cultural practices' can sometimes be used as a catch-all phrase, but generally it refers to topics that relate to growing the crop itself. This includes issues like choosing varieties and rootstocks, trellis and training systems to support the vines, managing the vines' canopies and cropload to meet production and fruit quality goals, winter pruning and more. You'll probably notice quickly that topics like these are also related to and influenced by information about pest management, vineyard nutrition and business management.
CULTURAL PRACTICES CATEGORIES
Most Recent Cultural Practices Fall Content
Hans Walter-Peterson, Team Leader, Viticulture Extension Specialist
One of the components that influences yields in grapevines is the number of berries that set and mature on each cluster, or "fruit set". Each flower cluster contains many individual flowers, each of which has the potential to become a grape. However, not every flower will successfully pollinate or develop a healthy embryo and the surrounding tissue that becomes the fruit that we want.
This article covers some of the factors that influence fruit set in grapes and summarizes practices that growers could use to influence set. It was originally published in the June 2013 issue of the Finger Lakes Vineyard Notes.
Hans Walter-Peterson, Team Leader, Viticulture Extension Specialist
Dr. Kees van Leeuwen is a professor of viticulture at the University of Bordeaux. His work focuses on the effects of environment on terroir. He is also the viticulture consultant for Chateau Cheval Blanc in St. Emilion, one of the premier producers in Bordeaux, which uses a high percentage of Cabernet Franc in its wines.
Dr. Benjamin Bois, an associate professor in viticulture and climatology from the University of Burgundy, speak to Finger Lakes growers and winemakers about Pinot noir production in Burgundy and how it is influenced by climatic and site conditions.
Factors That Affect Fruit Set
Hans Walter-Peterson, Team Leader, Viticulture Extension Specialist
Finger Lakes Grape Program
Last Modified: June 15, 2016
One of the components that influences yields in grapevines is the number of berries that set and mature on each cluster, or "fruit set". Each flower cluster contains many individual flowers, each of which has the potential to become a grape. However, not every flower will successfully pollinate or develop a healthy embryo and the surrounding tissue that becomes the fruit that we want.
This article covers some of the factors that influence fruit set in grapes and summarizes practices that growers could use to influence set. It was originally published in the June 2013 issue of the Finger Lakes Vineyard Notes.
Dr. Kees van Leeuwen, University of Bordeaux
Hans Walter-Peterson, Team Leader, Viticulture Extension Specialist
Finger Lakes Grape Program
Last Modified: December 10, 2014
Dr. Kees van Leeuwen is a professor of viticulture at the University of Bordeaux. His work focuses on the effects of environment on terroir. He is also the viticulture consultant for Chateau Cheval Blanc in St. Emilion, one of the premier producers in Bordeaux, which uses a high percentage of Cabernet Franc in its wines.
Dr. van Leeuwen visited the Finger Lakes in late October, 2014 and presented a seminar to the region's industry about the role of Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux production, and some of the results of research that he and others have done on the variety over the past several years. Dr. van Leeuwin was kind enough to give his permission for us to share the slides from his presentation to the industry.
Slides from Presentation by Dr. Benjamin Bois, University of Burgundy
Last Modified: September 17, 2014
Dr. Benjamin Bois, an associate professor in viticulture and climatology from the University of Burgundy, speak to Finger Lakes growers and winemakers about Pinot noir production in Burgundy and how it is influenced by climatic and site conditions.
Upcoming Events
FLGP Virtual Tailgate Meeting
June 9, 2020
4:30 - 6:00 PM
Join FLGP viticulturist Hans Walter-Peterson (and the occasional guest speaker) for any or all of this year's Tailgate Meetings, held every other Tuesday afternoon during the 2020 growing season, starting on June 9 and ending on August 18.Extension Answers Questions from the Field
June 16, 2020
4:30 - 5:30 PM
Regional viticulture extension staff will answer grower questions about what's been happening in the field and all things viticulture.Register at: https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAuf--tpjgiGdQdY3QLFP1g2FHWDfxCbkkp
FLGP Virtual Tailgate Meeting
June 23, 2020
4:30 - 6:00 PM
Join FLGP viticulturist Hans Walter-Peterson (and the occasional guest speaker) for any or all of this year's Tailgate Meetings, held every other Tuesday afternoon during the 2020 growing season, starting on June 9 and ending on August 18.Announcements
State Guidance for Farms Regarding COVID-19
New York state has released official guidance specific to farms addressing COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus). You can find the document titled "Interim Guidance for Prevention and Response of COVID-19 at Farms" at this link: https://agriculture.ny.gov/interim-guidance-prevention-and-response-covid-19-farms. The document covers: cleaning and disinfection, face coverings, social distancing, high-risk locations, coordination with local health departments, employee health screening, quarantine/isolation, and farm-provided employee housing.A companion document is a helpful checklist for farms to be sure they have covered every required item: https://agriculture.ny.gov/covid-19-operator-checklist-farms.
Also included is a tipsheet intended for farm workers (https://agriculture.ny.gov/covid-19-prevention-tips-farmworkers). This document is presently in English but should be available in more languages soon, and I recommend that you distribute it to all employees. Please carefully read the last section of the document titled "Empower Yourself," this section informs workers about how to file complaints. Make sure that your business is in full compliance with all federal and state COVID-19-related sick leave and paid family leave requirements and that you are communicating this information to employees, see this post (https://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/2020/04/01/covid-19-employee-leave-and-farm-employers/) for more information.