I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…

How’s this weather?!

It’s been raining non-stop (or at least it feels that way) since we last spoke.

I checked with the Bureau of Meteorology and they tell me that in the last week we’ve had 59.6mm here in Hahndorf, 70.0mm at mount Lofty and 71.6mm where I live 10 mins away.

To add to the craziness, the BOM also tells me that at Mount Lofty the maximum temperature was 11.8 degrees on Saturday!

But here’s the thing…

Although all the rain is threatening from a disease viewpoint (particularly for downy mildew), it’s not the worst thing in the world for the vines.

Rainfall at this stage of the season, and up to veraison (we’ll revisit this again when we get there), is good news for grape production.

Not so much for those poor cherry growers though. I won’t dwell on that, but if you live in Adelaide and you’re wanting cherries for your Christmas table, I’m guessing you should be prepared for some high prices!

GROWTH STAGE UPDATE

All varieties
E-L 29        Berries peppercorn size (4 mm diameter), bunches tending downwards.

Here’s something fun…

Inter-row weed management

OK, I know that doesn’t sound like all that much fun, but hear me out.

So, in between grapevine rows is a great place for weeds to grow – they get watered and fed and all the things weeds like.

But if weeds grow in between the vines, then they compete for all the water and nutrients that the vines need. And weeds don’t give us beautiful grapes to make delicious wine out of, so it’s a good idea to get rid of the weeds. It’s particularly important in the first three years of grapevine establishment, where competition can reduce cane growth and delay fruit production. As the canopy develops in older vineyards, weed growth may be suppressed because less sunlight is striking the vineyard floor.

The area between vine rows may be sprayed, mowed, or cultivated. Alternatively, mulches and flamers can be used to limit weed growth in vineyards. Use of subsurface irrigation will reduce weed growth during the warm season. Soil characteristics play an important role in weed management.

Anyway, here’s the fun bit.

You can also control weeds with animals!

Goats are browsers, and are very good at controlling woody plants.

Sheep are especially good for grassy weed control, as they graze close to the ground, and will readily eat thistles.

Geese have been used in garden plots to control grassy weeds.

Pigs can control perennial weeds between cropping seasons.

Cattle and sheep can be used for early grazing to prevent weed growth.

You’ve just got to make sure they don’t eat the grapes!

I also saw this article recently that brought a smile to my face…

West Australian winery deploys ducks to help manage vineyard pests

I love the idea of a waddling (yes, that’s the collective noun) of ducks wandering around the vineyard! How cute!