Unit 4.

Site Establishment &

Propagation

Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation

 Introduction
• Get it right the first time
• Site selection criteria:
– Climate
– Topography
– Soils
– Proximity of pests

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Climate
• Temperature
• Precipitation
• Wind
• Solar radiation
• Influence of water, mountains & rivers
• Frost pockets
• Air drainage

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
Climate Breakdown

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Temperature
• Determines possible cultivars
• Determines potentially highest quality
cultivars
• Heat accumulation
• Frost free season
• Low winter temperature
• Linked to solar radiation

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Water
• Water has strong influence on climate
• Stores heat energy
• Slow release of heat or cold
• Reflection

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Wind
• Positive and negative effects
• Negative:
– Break young shoots, alter canopy shape,
increase moisture demands
• Positive:
– Dries the canopy, reduces temperature
extremes

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Windbreaks

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Rainfall
• 21-23 inches per year
• Irrigation to supplement
• Distribution through season
• Excess creates problems
• Too little stresses vine

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Vegetation Analysis
• Mesoclimate information
• Species identified with climatic variables
• Vegetation effects vineyard management

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Huglin Index
• Relates solar energy to list of suitable
grape varieties

MDT = Mean daily temperature

MDMT = Mean daily maximum temperature
K = constant, a factor used to correct for different latitudes between 40 and 50 degrees
Latitude 40.1‑42 (K=1.02), 42.1‑44 (K=1.03), 44.1‑46 (K=1.04), 46.1‑48 (K=1.05), 48.1‑50 (K=1.06)

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Growing Degree Days
• Groups wine areas into five regions

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Latitude Temperature Index
• Groups by temperature of warmest month
and latitude

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Low Temperature Damage
• Can occur at any time through growing
season
• Radiative frosts
– Isolated spring and fall frosts
• Advective frosts
– Arctic air flow
• Vines hardiness varies through season
• Analyze damage before pruning
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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Low Temperature Protection
• Irrigation
• Wind machines
• Heaters
• Windbreaks
• Helicopter
• Cultural practices

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Topography
• Elevation
– Cooler 1°C for 100 meters altitude
• Slope
– Air drainage
– Affects heat accumulation
• Aspect
– South intercepts most solar radiation

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Slope

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Slope & Aspect

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Soils
• Certain minimum requirements
• Depth
• Drainage & aeration
• Fertility
• Nutrients & organic matter

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Site Preparation
• Plan well in advance
• Begin well in advance
• Preparation:
– Remove interfering vegetation
– Shape the land
– Analyze subsoil
– Weed control

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Site Planning
• Row orientation
• Row length
• Row spacing
• Vine spacing
• Headlands
• Calculating number of vines

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Planting
• Steps:
– Mark the rows
– Mark vine spacing
– Plant
• Planting methods:
– Hand
– Water jet
– Machine planter
• Vines supplied in different formats
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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Other Considerations
• Legal
• Water rights
• Endangered species
• Previous land use
• Adjacent land use
• Contract in place

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Propagation
• Seeds
• Misting green cuttings
• Tissue culture
• Container grown cuttings
• Hardwood cuttings
• Top working

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Tissue Culture

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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation
 Selecting Cuttings
• Moderate vigor
• Well-matured canes
• Central & basal part of cane
• Diameter 7-12mm
• Medium internodes
• 4-6 node length
• Healthy, straight
• 11-16 inches
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Unit 4. Site Establishment & Propagation