Alive And Well - Cabernet Sauvignon

The Cabernet Sauvignon vine that was coaxed inside the greenhouse earlier has responded to the extra warmth and is beginning to bud. As you can see I have a choice of two buds to choose as the main stem when they start to grow longer.

It looks like two of the three Interlaken cuttings are going to take. Here are two of them pushing out growth strongly.

These are exciting times imagining what these new varieties, new to me at least, will become.

Easy Choice.

It is sometimes difficult to decide if a grape vine is strong enough to carry fruit, even if it's only one cluster. Particularly if you are growing a new variety you are naturally curious about the fruit but wary of letting the vine crop too soon.

The small Regent plant in the greenhouse is growing a flower cluster but as it's far too small to carry any fruit it's a very easy decision to remove it. However I shall wait a couple of weeks for the cluster to develop further and the shoot to elongate more in order to remove it with the least damage to the developing shoot.

You will also notice a second smaller shoot below the main one. That too will be removed in a week or two so all the plants energy is channeled into the remaining shoot.

The Merzling is the first outdoor grape vine to break bud this year. Chardonnay is the variety that usually is the first out of the blocks but Merzling has beaten the Chardonnay to it.

First Green.

As any grape grower know this is the time of year that is full of expectant promise but also the trepidation that a bad frost could damage or even destroy newly emerging buds and shoots. Right now the great expectations are to the fore as the first vines are greening up.

The Perlette grape vine in the polytunnel is greening up nicely.

And one of the pot grown Regent plants in the greenhouse has this very healthy shoot.

An eagle eye is being kept on the weather forecast for any hint of frost so preventive action can be taken.

Buds Pushing.

There is a definite whiff of spring in the air. The birds are chirping, the first bees are on the wing, they surely know things are looking up.

But what they don't know is that the grapevines in the polytunnel are pushing out buds. Safely cocooned in a warm sheltered environment some them are already waking up.

This is Oberlin 595 clearly showing buds in the "wool" stage, the point between buds swelling and the first green showing.

And these are Solaris, only a little behind the Oberlin 595 but not by much.

What is noticeable is that all these cuttings seem to be pushing buds evenly increasing the chances of a good number of them rooting.

First Growth 2012.

The two young potted Regent plants have sprung into life. The buds have broken early meaning that they will get the maximum growing period giving them the best chance to bulk up.

They both have the dominant apical bud (the topmost one) pushing strongly with lower buds breaking too.

Now I need to keep the frost away from them for the next few weeks.

Lakemont.

The last of the vines planted in the polytunnel is Lakemont. This is a variety that has an excellent write up, a top notch seedless eating white grape, reliable, heavy cropping and able to ripen outside too. It sounds like a very worthwhle addition to the collection.

Behind are five cuttings Of Solaris and three of Suffolk Red. Solaris is generating a lot of excitement in northern european countries because of its disease resistance, very early ripening, high sugars and good wine. It grows vigorously so needs to be well spaced out and kept in check. A small price to pay for such valuable grapes.

Suffolk Red  is another seedless grape suited to amateur growers. Large pink grapes hang in loose clusters so botrytis should not be a problem. They are delicious and can be ripened outside so should be particularly useful.

Perlette Options.

This is a young Perlette in the polytunnel with cuttings of Kyoho grape and Oberlin 595.

Perlette is a highly recommended quality seedless grape. It produces early inside with delicious white grapes. It is said that it is liable for the berries to split somewhat near ripening though we will see if that is the case with this vine. It made enough pencil thick wood last year for me to leave a short spur when I pruned it. This may give me the option of letting it bear one bunch, or a half bunch, this year. Of course I can also decide not to let it fruit at all to concentrate its efforts into growing stronger before I allow fruit to form. It's a matter of keeping my options open.

Kyoho is probably the largest grape bearing variety that there is. The individual berries are huge, like small plums. The japanese rate them as one of the most highly prized dessert fruits. They cannot be ripened outside in this country so one will be planted in the lean to conservatory. I have four cuttings so at least one should grow.

This shows how large Kyoho grapes are.

I also have four cuttings of Oberlin 595. This variety bears small black grapes that hang down in a straight cylinder shape. What they lack in size, though, they make up for in flavour. On their own they can make an excellent beaujolais style wine or can be used with good effect in a blend. They ripen early and consistently too.