Hi all, I finally got my Mars in the ground! This includes the temporary string and post (T post? Is that what they’re called?) trellis system to keep it in the general right direction before we get the proper structure up. Now, questions! @GrapeNut
First, I have two main vines that I can’t choose from. The first seems straighter and is taller. The second is a little wandering but already is split into two canes at it’s top, just about where the other vine’s new growth goes straight up in a single cane. They’re about the same width so that doesn’t help. I’d have to really measure but I’d guess both reach about four and a half feet high already, with the taller cane maybe hitting five feet. Which should I choose as the main vine? Which gets chopped?
Second, on that topic, can I do anything productive with the pruned canes (pictured in jar)? They are obviously not dormant which is the recommended time to do anything regarding rooting, but I hate to give up on them if there’s any chance of propagating from them.
Finally, do I HAVE to get rid of ALL the little baby bunches just starting out?? I know it needs to root…but can I keep one bunch? (I’m already guessing no but I thought I’d ask!)
You can air layer actively growing grape vines to propagate them. The cuttings might root in the shade in some medium. Cut most of the larger leaves back by half or a little more. Little leaves you can keep on to grow (hopefully).
The posts are U-posts. T-posts are heavier duty and T-shaped.
I’d put whatever more permanent structure you plan to have the vine grow on in before it grows a bunch of roots if you can.
Nope, those are not T-post. A T-post forms a T when looking at it overhead.
And yes you can stick those cuttings into the soil. They may live if you take off all but the tiniest leaf and with most of the stem in the soil. Just keep them watered. But actually I can’t exactly remember if Mars is patented or not. Please check on that.
I would probably train the vine to have just one trunk going up to about 5 feet and then branching off into two opposite directions. Pruning off whatever I needed to to
accomplish that.
Since your vine is in full growth mode, I would leave both for now and reevaluate in winter. One might grow more strongly than the other and make your decision easier. Having more leaves now will help with root development as well.
Green cuttings will root quite easily. As @evilpaul and @tennessean said, I would remove all but one or two leaves, and trim off half of the leaf blade on the ones you’re keeping.
Yes, you should remove all of the clusters. They will divert a lot of carbohydrates from shoot and root growth.
Good thread. I have 6 new vines and one from last year that started this spring as a 1 foot tall vine (ErranteNoir). The new vines are growing well while the one from last year is going crazy.
As has been mentioned, best be patient and let the vine do its thing to build up resources for the roots. Next spring you may need to start from a pruned back vine and reestablish your cordons. They will grow with much thicker caliper next year.
For my ‘bushy’ second year vine, I have removed many shoots that were growing low on the trunk as I was concerned about the spalsh zone from rains and any issues with disease, mold, and mildew that might promote.
What I know for sure by the behavior of the older vine in the foreground, they will be perfectly happy in my yard.
PS my cordon height is low as I will be using Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP).
@evilpaul I have the holes sorta kinda started for the posts of the main trellis but I hadn’t realized how deep two feet (or more) is…I’m not sure I can do it alone and so far I haven’t had volunteered help Work in progress, but still, good point.
@GrapeNut CURSES I wish I had posted here before I pruned it as much as I did! As it stands I’ll leave what’s there. As far as leaf trimming goes, trim the remaining leaves themselves in half? And also No grapes for me this year…It had three bunches going! I already took off two with the optimistic hopes I could get away with one…bye bye buddy
@Shibumi I removed some lower leaves already, so I’m glad that will hopefully be better for the vine overall. I think I’ll be using either the GDC or just a regular single cordon system…blanking on the name of that one, but whatever lets the whole thing droop, as that is apparently what Mars does. The more I learn!
I was curious about what I had read about the Mars vine (pertaining to its similarity to the Concord vine) so I looked this up from the Bunchgrape site. I have the Concord vine and I rarely have to spray it for disease. So I quote…
“Mars (PVP, but patent has expired) (Island Belle x Ark. 1339) 1986. University of Arkansas. This blue seedless has the largest berries of all American-type seedless grapes in my collection. The vigor of the vine is good, but it’s behavior changes over time. On young vines, clusters are loose and straggly, making for a light crop weight. After a few years, as the vine matures, the clusters are more well filled and the vine produces more overall crop weight. The flavor of the fruit is labrusca, like the Island Belle parent, with slightly pulpy flesh. The fruit is actually at its best a day after picking, when acids go down a bit. Better disease resistance than most seedless grapes, though it still needs as much disease control as Concord. . One of the last to bud out in the spring, which helps it avoid late frost. Spur pruning works for me. Ripens about three to four weeks before Concord.”
Should be a great variety for canning jelly (without the seeds) if your interested in that!
Work in progress, but still, good point.
No grapes for me this year…It had three bunches going! I already took off two with the optimistic hopes I could get away with one…bye bye buddy