Early Buds in the Vineyard

Just a few pictures of the buds which are beginning to push in the vineyard because of he very warm temperatures this spring. From left to right are the buds of the Chardonnay are the first to push leaves. Although the leaves are still small, they are becoming more susceptible to an early frost. The latest Ag Extension publication said that buds that are at this stage are still able to take withstand temperatures between 30 - 32 degrees without damage.

The second picture is the Vidal Blanc. These buds are still closed and they only show considerable swelling. According to the research, these buds should be able to withstand temperatures down to 28 degrees without considerable damage.

The final picture on the right is the Chambourcin and it also has swollen but unopened buds. Hopefully, all the buds will continue to hold out until the warm weather is here to stay. I guess we will just have to wait and see since we can't control the weather. If everything works out, the harvest could be up to 6 weeks ahead of schedule. I can't imagine picking grapes in August but it just may be the new vineyard schedule in PA. Stay tuned for updates throughout the growing season.