Growing Grapes

Growing Grapes. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

When we purchased our home some 12 years ago we were fortunate to have an established concord grape vine in the back yard. I will be the first to admit I know nothing about growing good grapes. Now, thanks to WSU there is at least a guide for chasing down pests. The Ag Networks David Sparks has more.

SPARKS: Anyone interested in growing grapes for juice or wine will want to get a copy of the newly released Field Guide for Integrated Pest Management in Pacific Northwest Vineyards. The guide features over 240 full-color photographs illustrating the region’s most common pests, diseases, weeds, and abiotic stresses, along with detailed descriptions of recommended monitoring and management methods for vineyards. This vineyard management manual is the result of collaboration among experts in fields ranging from entomology and plant pathology to viticulture, and has been written by 24 specialists from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho’s leading universities, related industries, and the USDA. More than just a book for trouble-shooting problems, it presents information about general vineyard management for a systems-wide integrated pest management approach.

The guide was made possible by funding from the Western Integrated Pest Management Center and Washington Wine Industry Foundation. A limited number of free copies will be available for participants at various WSU Viticulture Extension events throughout the year or may be purchased from the WSU Extension Online Store.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.