Wow again. Words fail me when trying to describe the growth I have seen in just two weeks! Leaf and bud growth almost everywhere.Look at those pics.

The Nortons have some better leaf growth, but very few buds. The Chambourcin and Chardonnel are just going nuts, with big leaf growth and clusters galore.

Almost everything that I have read states that you should pinch the clusters off this second year to force the vine structure to continue to build and develop. I hope I don’t pay for it down the road, but I decided to leave a couple ‘test’ clusters on some of the hardier vines. There are quite a few vines that have had vigorous growth and trunks of pencil thickness. (which is good for their age).  I don’t see that it will hurt the sturdier ones. I want the the vines to get motivated! Look what you can do guys!

I do see the wisdom in thinning most of these clusters since some vines put out more than they can handle at this point in their life. But the temptation to actually grow a few grapes this year was too much for me to resist – so I didn’t resist it. I will have a few grapes this year. Whether there will be enough to make even 1 gallon of wine remains to be seen.

I can hardly contain my excitement in wanting to know how they are going to turn out.

All the 1 year old vines were fertilized again with about 1 – 1/2 Tbsp of 10-10-10. The bearing vines will need fertilizing once per month through late summer.