Week 19 (Oct. 21 - 25th)

The ground is finally damp enough to permit us to remove the vines that have been rejected from the breeding program or have died throughout the season. Since decaying roots in the ground can hinder the development of young vines, we use this hydraulic lift (called a Dingo) in order to pull the rest of the plant out of the ground. Grape wood makes great smoking wood, so we are lopping off and saving all the trunks! 

This plant appears to have a healthy root system, so it's fruiting potential must have lead to it's demise. Notice how there are many fine-haired "feeder roots" near the surface and larger "sinker roots" deeper in the soil profile. The feeder root's high surface area allows them to quickly absorb nutrients (with the help of mycorrhizal fungi) and water, while the sinker roots are utilized for carbohydrate winter storage and seeking out water in times of drought. These roots also help stabilize the plant. It's hard to tell in this picture, but you can also see how the roots emerge at each subterranean node and therefore form in tiers. 

The bumps near my thumb are evidence of Crown Gall. This bacterial infection is problematic after hard winters, which cause the sensitive trunks to crack and become exposed to the pathogens. Areas affected by crown gall will eventually die. This can significantly restricts the xylem flow from the roots and eventually will kill the plant. 

I capped off the week Friday by mowing all the aisles one final time for the season. I passed down each row four times in order to ensure that the grass was short enough to discourage mice from making winter homes in the vineyard. If food sources get scarce, mice will resort to eating bark from the vines, effectively girdling the plant. As you can see, we experienced our first hard frost this week as well. This means that all photosynthesis productions is done for the season, all fruit and wood ripening has occurred, and carbohydrate storage has finished. The vines are not going into dormancy, preparing for the long, cold winter ahead.