Starting Into Growth.

All the vines, indoors and out have broken bud and begun growing. Some are further forward than others as you would expect but the Chardonnay vine is normally one of the first to break bud but this year is one of the last - but it is finally pushing buds.

We have had some cool weather recently with a couple of overnight frosts. This has resulted in one or two of the buds getting frosted. This is another reason to leave extra buds at pruning.

In the garden it is easier to protect them from frost though no system is foolproof. Here is a Regent shoot romping away.

And here are a couple of buds that won't make it.

In a couple of weeks the risk of frost should be gone. Then the work really begins!