We are entering the period when your canopy growth starts to slow (keep an eye on those shoot tips for an indicator) and then the vine switches to fruit ripening rather than producing leaves to feed sugar to the fruit. It is critical in this period to keep an eye on water stress. In a perfect world you would not need to apply water until the berries have fully sized up and formed hard seeds, or even better until veraison, but steep hillsides, thin soil, stressed vines, and many other factors will change that. Some of you may even need to apply a little drip now, though we shouldn’t go too crazy with the water until the vine is firmly working on maturing fruit rather than growing leaves and longer canes.
This article posted by the Lodi Growers Association is a great overview with pictures to help remind you what to watch for and what your vines may be thinking about right now. The season has been pretty gentle so far so things should be looking good, but water stress, mildew control, and canopy control are the three fundamental things we need watch for a healthy crop. Please walk your vines often and communicate with your crew if you see anything mentioned in this article. – Pietro
