SUGAR HOLLOW VINEYARD
NOTES ON VINEYARD CONSTRUCTION – 2007
Paul Milnes
Various observations made during the planning for and construction of the Sugar Hollow Vineyard may be of value to future projects. Planning for this project began in the spring of 2006 and the vineyard was planted during the summer of 2007. In some cases the ideas presented here were good decisions that I made during the process. In other cases they represent the experience of bad decisions which I would do over if I could. This is not intended to be a complete listing of all the steps or stages required for constructing a vineyard. It is merely intended to record various key decisions or observations which I believe can have a value in furthering the success of a project. Courses for new growers provided by the Penn State Ag Extension are excellent. Those meetings provide an opportunity for networking with other growers and for proper planning of a project. Attendance at those sessions is strongly encouraged. If you don’t have time to go to the meetings you don’t have time to be planting a vineyard. Here are a few of the observations I have made:
· Opportunities exist for vineyard site acquisition other than outright purchase. Many property owners, including individuals and conservancy groups, are willing to talk about long term leases because they do not want to maintain property but also do not want it to grow up to brush. A long term lease agreement (15 year) with a provision for periodic renewal lends itself well to economic analysis. Look for farmers that have sold their development rights but want to retire.
· Before planting a commercial vineyard consider planting a small vineyard to gain an understanding of the substantial effort in establishing and maintaining a vineyard. Perform a thorough analysis of the vineyard site climatic conditions. Consider installation of a HOBO or other monitoring device to capture data about the site. Attend as many Penn State Ag Extension meetings as possible and get to know other growers. Be sure you want to make the substantial investment after understanding the effort and risk involved.
· Perform careful research to determine acceptable varieties based on climate conditions and the market for grapes. Be sure to discuss the varieties and quantities with the winemaker to ensure that you will have a market to sell the grapes once they are matured. If you don’t have a secure market, don’t build.
· Perform a 2-feet contour interval topographic mapping and prepare a preliminary layout. A good topography map with site features provides valuable assistance in planning for deer fence, length of rows, plant and trellis quantities, surface and sub-drainage, irrigation system design and access planning.
· Hire a vineyard consultant. It will turn out to be the best money spent in the vineyard project. A good consultant will save the cost of the consulting fees many times over through the avoidance of numerous missteps. A consultant can pave the way for arranging delivery of goods and services through their contacts.
· As early as possible, but no later than the early spring of the preplant year, order plants. This should be done after consultation with the winery and the vineyard consultant. If you delay ordering, the variety selection, rootstocks available and quality of grafting becomes a problem.
· Build a deer fence in the pre-plant year or early in the spring of the planting year. Do not rely upon grow tubes for protection. Plants quickly grow out of the tube and deer will nip the buds at that point. It will set your plant development back a year and you may as well plant the next year.
· Purchase a grape hoe prior to or concurrent with planting. It will allow you to avoid the material and labor costs involved with installation of grow tubes or “milk cartons” for herbicide spray protection. Make this decision earlier rather than later. Avoidance of grow tube and herbicide costs can easily pay for the grape hoe in the first year or two. The grape hoe is a necessary tool for hilling up and you will eventually buy one anyway. Used hoes are rarely available so plan to buy a new one. Order the grape hoe early since delivery can be slow. The Braun grape hoe is imported from Germany and can take several weeks for delivery.
· The availability of irrigation water, particularly in the planting year, can be a valuable asset. Performing an analysis of water requirements based on potential evapotranspiration prior to planting will assist in being prepared at planting time with adequate resources. An excellent source of information on evapotranspiration rates can be found at http://pasc.met.psu.edu/PA_Climatologist/state/pameans.html. To have irrigation water available as soon as possible install water source, irrigation feed pumps (if required), controls, main line headers, solenoids, etc. prior to planting. This makes water available near the vineyard rows after planting and minimizes the time during which water may have to be hauled to keep plants alive during a dry planting year. Be sure to install control wiring to the solenoids simultaneous with the main line header to avoid digging a second trench. Install any additional wiring in the same trench if required for soil moisture, temperature or other monitoring (if not using wireless).
· If using external anchors for row ends, consider buying used 2 to 3 inch metal piping to use as a “dead man”. Dig a trench along the length of the row ends. The trench can double as a trench for a polyethylene distribution header to be used for the irrigation system. Pre-manufacture anchors from rebar or stock metal rods which have welded metal loops at either end. One end should be large enough to slip over the dead man. The other end should create an eye for attaching the brace wire. Install a tee in the irrigation distribution header at each anchor and bring the distribution tubing up along the anchor. Install a valve above ground level for each drip tube. Install a drain valve for winterizing at the low point in each distribution header and in the main.
· In the preplant year spray the field with broad based herbicides for both grass and weeds. Till the field and replant to annual rye for erosion control and a green mulch through the winter.
· In spring of the planting year till the field again in preparation for laser or GPS planting. After planting reseed the vineyard rows as necessary for temporary or permanent erosion control. A Brillion type seeder works well for this purpose.
· Laser and GPS planter companies do not recommend planting through sod. Even if the rows have been hit with herbicide prior to planting the sod remains. The sod interferes with the planter operation and with grape hoe operation after planting. Be sure to discuss the field preparation with the planting company in the pre-plant year so that they know what to expect when they get there. (Go to see one operate during the preplant year.)
· The benefits of laser or GPS planting are numerous. On a cost per plant basis it is probably as cheap as using a trencher or auger, particularly if you are paying for hand labor to plant. Precise location of plants enables the use of plants as markers for vineyard post locations and makes trellis layout easier and faster. Straight row alignment enables easier operation of the grape hoe, tunnel sprayer or harvester.
· If there is any regrowth of grass in the vineyard, consider one round-up spray application immediately after planting and before the buds have begun to push. By starting with a clean row it will be easier to maintain a weed free condition with the grape hoe and no additional use of chemicals.
· Be prepared to install vineyard trellis row ends and line posts immediately after planting. It’s very helpful to have an irrigation wire and fruiting wire available for installing and attaching the pencil rods and for attaching irrigation tubing as soon as possible after planting.
· Order vineyard posts, wire and other materials well ahead of planting since you will want to start building trellis immediately after planting. Mobilize with adequate labor, equipment and materials available at this point in time.