Managing Those Vines

Grapes have been grown for wine for at least 2000 years (I know that because I've read the bible). So naturally vine management is something that is well developed -- and not to be learnt overnight. For us, the trickiest part is the pruning, which is done after the leaves fall (around November) and before the new shoots appear (March or so). After pruning, we have to tie up the remaining stems to the wires and posts that support the new growth. This is done with 'vime', branches of a type of willow that (helpfully) grows abundantly near streams and rivers here.

There are books and books on pruning grapes. We've read a bit on the subject, but so far it has passed right above our heads; it is a complex, multi-year process that entails understanding how the vines grow and remembering which bit of each vine is which... As a result, our pruning so far has been fairly random, based on a few pointers we've picked up from local people and from the literature. At the end of the day, our pruned vines look vaguely similar to those of our neighbours, which is probably a good thing. At the moment, I haven't got any photos of the pruned grape vines; I'll try to get them and post later.

Our vines are basically supported by two parallel wires. These are stretched between a variety of posts -- the best being slivers of slate about two and a half metres tall. We also have a few concrete posts, some odd bits of steel and some wooden. Between the main posts there are canes, also harvested nearby, to provide extra support.

Around this time of year, after pruning, we have to retie and sometimes replace or move the canes. We also have to tie the pruned branches to the wires or canes. This is done with a kind of willow or osier (a flexible twig of a willow). In Portuguese this is called 'vime' and indeed people talk of 'doing the vime'. It seems that this word probably comes from the latin name of the willow variety: Salix viminalis. Anyway, this willow grows along streams and in valleys here. When the leaves fall, they leave long, spindly yellowish branches and twigs -- which are all cut down leaving the tree as just a stump (from which the next year's grown magically appears). Soaked in water, these twigs become strong, flexible ties that have a number of uses around the garden. (Including building frameworks for the tomatoes, etc.). It's good to be able to use a natural local product -- rather than the plastic ties advocated in some references to vine management.

Here's the vime, cut and soaking in water prior to use

And a rather poor shot of a vine tied to a post using a length of vime