Scribner Bend Vineyards

Grapevines Are Strange Little Plants

kim — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:27:11 +0000

Grapevines are strange little plants with many traits that are not normally found in other plants and fruiting trees. The beginning of the season is marked with budbreak, the emergence of the new shoot from the pruned spur. Although this process happens every year, the number of berries per cluster varies in the given season that would dictate this change. In fact, the number of berries per cluster is actually determined in the previous year and is based on weather patterns, nutrient uptake, management techniques and irrigation.
Within the small house of the node lie three separate buds: the primordial shoot, the secondary shoot and the tertiary shoot. Each of these buds already has a predetermined number of berries per cluster, however, the primortial shoot contains the highest number. If the primortial shoot grows out and is sheared off by high winds or frost, the secondary shoot take over and grow. The same pattern of growth occurs of the tertiary bud if the secondary shoot is lost. Athough the secondary and tertiary shoots contain the smaller number of berries per cluster, the grapevine gives itself an insurance policy of creating fruit in the given season.