Our First Pruning

Now that our new vines have been in the ground for a while and started growing, we've begun training the strongest shoot skyward on the planting stake. If the shoot continues to grow large enough, it will become the trunk of the new vine. With luck, it can happen the first year. If that happens, it will get tied to the first horizontal (fruiting) wire and next year, the new growth begins there. So far, so good. Mortalities due to gopher damage have been minimal, as ridding the vineyard of them is a top priority and Jeff drops everything to counter them when they "pop up."