I mentioned that growers have been leaving pruning late to avoid the risk of frost and that some are pruning in 2 passes.
You can see this clearly in my picture today. The canes have been selected but have been left as they are and there will be a second pass to cut them to the required length.
I saw this in organic vineyards in Saumur Champigny and St Nicolas de Bourgueil last week. This method of pruning is used for Cabernet France and is what we call a cane replacement system.
Each year one healthy cane is chosen from the previous season’s wood to bear the fruit the following season. Vines fruit on one year old wood.
A spur or short cane is left on the opposite side with just 2 or 3 buds on. This is to produce the replacement cane the year after.
The second pass through the vineyard is time sensitive. Those most at risk from frost will be tackled last and those least at risk will be the first to be pruned to their final length.
