Sustainable Viticulture for Midwestern Fruit Growers

Sustainable Viticulture for Midwestern Fruit Growers

Summary

French hybrids, viniferas, and other wine grapes exhibit greater sensitivity to wet, cold winters than the more traditonal table and juice grape varieties.

Objective: To demonstrate that intensive tile drainage, combined with new hybrid grape varieties, can increase net income over traditional Concord grape farming.

The producer is using intensive tile drainage to enhance winter hardiness and production for the newer hybrids and old world viniferas. The demonstration is being conducted on 18 newly planted rows. One set of nine rows has tile placed every other center, 18 feet apart at a depth of 24 inches. The other nine rows have tile paced in each center, nine feet apart at a depth of 24 inches. The project compares growth, yield and winter hardiness of the plants at different tile spacing.

Results: Early observations are very positive, but a final analysis requires several years of observation and data collection.

Full Report Available