Viticulture is becoming a successful alternative cropping system in Kentucky due to the increased demand for locally grown grapes and their profitability. However, the sustainability of the industry is hindered by insufficient experience on estimating crop size of hybrid and vinifera cultivars in a region that is subject to frequent damaging winter and spring temperatures.
The effects of crop size (number of clusters per vine or hectare) on vine size, yield, and fruit composition are not always the same for different grape varieties, training systems, and growing regions. Growers in Kentucky often overcrop grapevines, leading to decreased fruit quality in the current season and, more important, decreased primary bud cold-hardiness and vine size in the following season.
Vine Planting Information
