A Technical Guide
for Wine Producers

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Wynboer Tips for August

1. Planning

  • Plan herbicide programme as well as spring fertiliser and spraying programmes.
  • Place the necessary product orders. Adhere strictly to the IPW guidelines.
2. In the vineyard

Calibrate spraying pump and fertiliser sprayer.

Pest control

  • The emphasis should be on correct mealy bug control before budding. Follow the quidelines for winter treatment to the letter.
  • Control snails if problematic.
Pruning
  • Vines in areas prone to frost may be final-pruned in one action as late as possible.
  • If budding stimulants are applied 3-5 weeks before bud-burst, a good synergistic interaction is obtained if the pruning (in one action) and application of budding stimulants are timed as close as possible to each other.
Herbicide and/or cultivation
  • Before budburst, kill weeds with a full-surface spray using a systemic product. If pre-emergence herbicides are used, be fully aware of the requirements for successful control as well as the accompanying dangers in some instances.
  • Cover crops should be sprayed and then preferably flattened to ensure the best retention of dry matter, especially under dry land conditions.
Planting of vines
  • Attempt to finish planting before the end of August.
  • Keep replacement vines on hand in plastic bags for use this year in instances where vines did not take.
Fertilisation
  • A fertilisation programme should be drawn up for each block on the farm in collaboration with a fertiliser expert and/or viticultural consultant.
  • If chicken manure is used as fertiliser, now is the right time for application.
Irrigation
  • Do maintenance work and chloronisation on irrigation system.
  • Supplement soils to field capacity before budding, except in instances where a deficit irrigation strategy is followed.
3. Financial

Contact Gert van Wyk for information about:

  • Viability, cost and profitability analyses.
  • Presentations on the economics of wine grape cultivation, industry overview, etc.
  • Budgets and financial planning in the light of production cost, establishment cost and other industry parameters.
  • Participation in the production plan/study groups.
Compiled by: VinPro Consultation Service
For more information contact Annamarie van Onselen at (021) 807-3027.

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