Kelly Family Winery - Spring 2022

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AUTONOMY L I FESTYLE ™ 351 SECOND STREET , NAPA , CA 94559

Leverag i ng Autonomy Wi nes PAGE ONE Par tner Prof i l es PAGE TWO Autonomy L i f es t y l e PAGE THREE Market i ng - You ! PAGE THREE How To Become An Autonomy Member PAGE THREE I n the V i neyard PAGE FOUR Inside This Issue

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FEBRUARY In the Vineyard

Grapevines need to be pruned each year. Pruning enhances sunlight and airflow within the fruiting zone, which improves this year’s fruit quality and inhibits some disease. Improved light exposure also ensures that buds forming on this year’s shoots will be fruitful next year. Pruning removes dead, damaged, unfruitful, and otherwise undesirable wood — for instance, canes that are growing in the wrong direction or that crowd other canes. If you don’t prune, it won’t take long for your vines to creep into your neighbors’ trees! Late February is usually a good time to start pruning grapes because the vines are resuming active growth, as indicated by bud swell. This is appropriately termed “bud break.” The inner bud is enlarging and will soon break free from its protective bud scales.

An ideal pruning day is dry and followed by at least two days with no predicted rain. Pathogens, or disease-causing microbes, are carried by wind and rain and can enter vines through wounds left by pruning. By waiting for a dry period, you give the wounds time to heal before the next rain. If you cannot prune in late February, due to rain, it is okay to prune in early to mid- March, before the emerging shoots reach a couple of inches long. However, earlier is better to avoid inadvertent shoot breakage during pruning. *University of California Cooperative Extension — UCCE Master Gardeners of Sacramento County/ Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources “On our vineyard in Napa, bud break typically happens in early April” –Gene

https://sacmg.ucanr.edu/In_the_vineyard/

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