Cast the nets

Here we are, netting the vines.  

The process involves lots of people - 3 that cast a 17' wide net over the rows, then unrolling down each row.

Then a follow-up crew secures the nets at the base with clothepins (although we may upgrade to fishing line soon, since it would do a better job at staying sealed against aggressive birds.)

This year, many volunteers got bit by some type of small biting bug.  Yuck!  I didn't know we had anything but mosquitos around here; and they usually die out by June-ish. 

More research necessary! 

Soon, you'll be netted

 

This is always a bit sad, the grapevines are growing, all green and otherwise satisfied, but they're about to get covered with mesh netting.  I don't think they mind it (definitely don't mind birds NOT getting to the grapes), but it's sad for me.

80% veraison

Purple grapes - now THAT'S what this time of year is supposed to be looking like!

We're about 80% now, most berries are now purple instead of green.  And based on previous years, it's perfect time to be putting up the nets. 

Timing IS everything.

Pre-netting prep

Interested in erradicating any traces of PM before a preventative spray tomorrow, I gave rows 2 & 3 a 10% milk + 2T/gallon Epsom salt solution (Epsom salt is to continue correcting for Magnesium deficiency.)  Plus, there was just enough to also spray the 3 vines closest to side path on rows 4 & 5 with this mix.  More as the weekend progresses!

Crystals

I noticed these small white crystal-like deposits on the top of some leaves in the vineyard.  They don't look like anything I've seen before; and because I've only recently tried spraying milk I wonder if it's residue from that?  More investigation needed, stay tuned!

Spray

Done spraying; was able to spread it out over several days thanks to foggy mornings.  The math ended up being 6.5 cups nonfat milk in the 4 gallon sprayer for a 10% solution.

Time for milk

Right around veraison is when many stop their powdery mildew (PM) spray schedule, mostly due to the fact that the grapes are relatively resistant to PM after veraison (leaf tissue and grapes are most susceptible during leaf growth / berry development per this article by Dr. Wilcox.) 

However, disease pressure here is so high (given the fact that temps have been within the ideal PM range, 65-85 F), that I'm going to give the vines at least one more spray of the lightest weight stuff I know that works as an erradicant: whey.  Many backyard vineyards use a 10% solution of nonfat milk exclusively - a practice backed up by Peter Crisp, out of the University of Adelaide down in Australia.  

Given that I just ran out of Stylet Oil and would rather not store a nearly-full container all summer, decided to give milk a try.

15% Veraison

At last, it looks like the grapes are starting to turn purple!  Looks like we're 2 or so weeks behind last year, makes sense in that we're having an unseasonably cool summer.

Brown tomato bug?

Was out pinching & training the vines, and noticed this huge bug.  Looked like a really big hornworm, but brown instead of green.  Well, after close inspection, I'm pretty sure he was just a hornworm, a.k.a. tomato bug.  Removed him just in case - let him live in nearby ivy instead.

After pinching & training, gave all but rows 5-6 a good 6 hrs of drip.