By Clint Thompson
Site selection and soil testing are helpful in ensuring long-term success for potential grape producers.
Sarah Lowder, University of Georgia (UGA) viticulture Extension specialist, emphasized that message following UGA’s New Grape Growers Symposium this year.
“Choosing the right site is one of the best things that you can do to have an economically sustainable vineyard in the long run. But one of the biggest mistakes that I see is if they haven’t done good soil prep,” Lowder said. “So, especially in Georgia, we tend to see really low pH, really acidic soils. And once you put the trellis and the vines in the ground, there’s really not much you can do to remedy that. If you haven’t addressed the soil profile before you put anything in the ground, then it is a difficult game and that can be nearly impossible, if not fully impossible, to fix that.
“If everyone does a better job of getting their soil tests and getting their soil amended before plants in the ground, that will make me a happy lady.”
According to UGA research, Lowder also encourages growers to implement tissue analysis. They determine the vine’s current nutrient status, identify any deficient or excessive nutrients and monitor plant responses to fertilizer applications.
If growers ignore the vine’s nutritional leads, it can lead to reduced yields and lower fruit quality over time.