The winter is coming to an end and we have to check the vines to get a feel for what me may expect come spring. In particular we are looking for signs of damage due to cold. This winter has not been particularly cold although we had a stretch of days in the -20c to -22c zone. This is a bit unusual as when we do get this cold it is usually for just 1 day.
Took a sampling of the varieties and thusfar most look pretty good. Leon Millot is among the least hardy and it is looking pretty good so far. Have to qualify the statement with "so far" because the real potential for vine damage is not only in extreme cold temperature but more often it is when we get warm temperature in the spring then a sudden cold snap.
When this happens, the warm temperature get the vines to come out of dormancy and they loose their deep cold temperature protections and the saps start to flow. If then we get a real good cold snap then that can really damage the buds. Same can happen in the fall if we get a cold snap before the vines have had a chance to get to dormancy stage.
When this happens, the warm temperature get the vines to come out of dormancy and they loose their deep cold temperature protections and the saps start to flow. If then we get a real good cold snap then that can really damage the buds. Same can happen in the fall if we get a cold snap before the vines have had a chance to get to dormancy stage.
