Vineyard Underground

Can you spot the spotted lanternfly? Join us as we sit down with Dr. Michela Centinari, Associate Professor of Viticulture at Penn State, for the latest research on this invasive insect pest and its impact on North American vineyards.

Together, we explore all things spotted lanternfly for winegrape growers including identification, risk factors, preventative strategies, and treatment options. We cover how to identify spotted lanternfly in all stages of its life cycle along with what to do and how to report if you discover them in your vineyard.

Michela walks us through not only geographical risk factors, but also risk factors like Tree of Heaven and the differences in susceptibility among vinifera, French-American hybrids, and wild grapes. And we cover effective treatment methods for eggs, nymphs, and adult lanternflies, as well as the challenges of treating adults close to harvest.

By the end of our conversation, you'll be armed with valuable resources and knowledge to help ensure the health and success of your vineyard against this invasive species.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The background on the spread of spotted lanternfly in North America
• Vineyard risk factors for spotted lanternfly
• How to identify and report spotted lanternfly in your vineyard
• Options for prevention and treatment in the vineyard

Follow and Review:

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Episode Resources:

If you have questions about today's episode or other grape-growing questions, visit VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com and click the Ask Fritz button. Or, come grow with Fritz through VirtualViticultureAcademy.com, and save $75 off your first year of membership with the code Underground at checkout.

Learn more about the spotted lanternfly with these resources from Penn State Extension:

1. Spotted Lanternfly Overview: https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly
2. Video: What is Spotted Lanternfly: https://youtu.be/uin0GECoi4A
3. Identify Spotted Lanternfly: https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-what-to-look-for
4. Report Spotted Lanternfly: https://extension.psu.edu/have-you-seen-a-spotted-lanternfly
5. Spotted Lanternfly FAQ: https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-frequently-asked-questions
6. Spotted Lanternfly Management in Vineyards: https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-management-in-vineyards
7. Additional Spotted Lanternfly Resources: https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-management-resources

Today's Guest:

Michela Centinari, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Viticulture at Penn State. Her specialties include wine grape production, grapevine physiology, sustainable viticulture, & cold temperature stress.

Connect with Michela or view her research.

Episode Credits:

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

Should you be practicing leaf removal in your vineyard? What's the correct timing? How much leaf removal is too much? In this episode, we dive into the why, when, and how of all things leaf removal so you can feel confident in your thinning decisions.

Our guests are Extension Viticulturist Dr. Cain Hickey from Penn State University and seasoned grape grower Galen Troxell from Galen Glen Vineyards in Pennsylvania. We talk about the research that's been done on fruit zone leaf removal and their experience with it. We also discuss their individual practices and how they apply to different climates.

In this episode, you will hear:

• What is leaf removal
• The reasons to practice leaf removal in your vineyard
• When should you thin your leaves in your climate
• The research on the effects of fruit quality as a result of leaf removal
• The effects of methoxypyrazines
• When and why Galen started implementing mechanical leaf removal in his vineyard

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Resources:

If you have questions about today's episode or other grape growing questions, you can visit VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com and click the Ask Fritz button.

• Learn more about leaf removal with these free Grower Guide videos from Fritz and check out all the grape growing content and resources at VirtualViticultureAcademy.com.
• Late Season Leaf Removal: Reasons and Precautions: https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/grower-guides/late-season-leaf-removal-reasons-and-precautions/
• Leaf Removal is a Snap: https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/grower-guides/leaf-removal-is-a-snap/
• Leaf Thinning After Fruit Set: https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/grower-guides/leaf-thinning-after-fruit-set/
• Mid-Season Vineyard Strategies: https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/grower-guides/mid-season-vineyard-strategies/

Come grow with Fritz through VirtualViticultureAcademy.com! Save $75 off your first year of membership with the code Underground at checkout.

Today's Guests:

Cain Hickey is a Viticulture Extension Educator at Penn State. His areas of expertise include applied viticulture, grapevine physiology, pruning and training, and canopy management.

Connect with Cain:

https://extension.psu.edu/cain-hickey https://extension.psu.edu/education-format?authors=

Galen Troxell and his wife Sarah are the owners and founders of the award-winning and highly recognized Galen Glenn Winery in Pennsylvania. They started their highly successful vineyard and winery in 1995 and in 2003 became the first vineyard east of the Rocky Mountains to commercially plant Gruner Veltliner. They have been successfully using mechanical leaf removal since 2012.

Connect with Galen:

https://www.galenglen.com https://www.instagram.com/galenglenwine/ https://www.facebook.com/GalenGlenWine

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

When we shoot thin, we force the vines to focus all their best energy where we want the production and where we want the vine to grow in the years to come. This is how international pruning expert Marco Tessari so perfectly explains the purpose of shoot thinning.

Marco along with Ken Swegles of Rhizos Viticulture Consulting join me for this information-packed episode exploring what you need to know about shoot thinning for your current season and for the long-term growth and longevity of your conventional or organic vineyard.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How shoot thinning directly ties into the work done while dormant pruning
• How proper shoot thinning is important for vineyard growth and longevity
• What vineyards need to shoot thin - cane vs spur vineyards
• Optimal shoot thinning timing
• Shoot thinning considerations for organic growers

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Resources:

If you have questions about today's episode or other grape-growing questions, you can visit VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com and click the Ask Fritz button.

Learn more about Shoot Thinning with these free Grower Guide videos from Fritz, and check out all the grape-growing content and resources at VirtualViticultureAcademy.com.

1. Shoot Trimming or Hedging Concepts for Vigorous Vines
2. Shoot Thinning High Cordon Vines
3. Thinning Young Vines to Produce Strong Spur Positions

If you are interested in joining VirtualViticultureAcademy.com to have access to member content and twice monthly live advising with Fritz, you can use the code Underground at checkout for $75 off your first year of membership as a thank you for being a podcast listener.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Today's Guests:

Marco Tessari is an international pruning expert based out of Montebelluna, Italy. Marco works with vineyards all over the world in person and virtually and is revolutionizing the art and science of vineyard pruning.

Connect with Marco via email or follow him on Instagram

Ken Swegles is the founder of Rhizos Viticulture in California and rehabilitates and manages vineyards through the exclusive practices of regenerative agriculture.

Connect with Ken at Madson Wines or Rhizos Viticulture or follow him on Instagram.

We get many questions from growers like you all over the country and the world, so we are taking this episode to answer a handful of these questions on topics ranging from young vine training to fungicide rotation.

Listen in, as you may have had some of these same questions in your vineyard, and stay tuned for more grower Q&A episodes in the future!

In this episode, you will hear:

• In year two, should I let the fruit develop or drop?
• When should I start spraying vines in the season if there's rain in the forecast, and how does that affect the spread?
• What do you do if your vines are at different stages of bud development in the spring and rain is forecasted?
• Can I cut extra spurs back to the basil bud or thin the new green shoots?
• When and how is the best way to apply boron?
• Is using a fungicide with the same FRAC (Fungicide Resistance Action Committee) code on back-to-back sprays okay?

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Want Fritz to answer your grape growing questions? Request a FREE Guest Pass to get live advice from Fritz during the next Virtual Viticulture Academy Live Vineyard Advising session (scheduled every other Monday).
• Or, you can always reach out to Fritz via the "Ask Fritz" button at VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com if you have questions about this episode or any other grape growing questions.
• Learn to Be a Better Grape Grower with VirtualViticultureAcademy.com – save $75 off your first year of membership with the code Underground at checkout.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In this episode, Paicines Ranch Vineyard Director and global agriculture consultant, Kelly Mulville, shares his passion and expertise on integrating regenerative agriculture principles including sheep into vineyard systems to increase ecosystem health, biodiversity, and profitability. Listen in to learn more about regenerative agriculture and how you can implement regenerative agriculture principles into your vineyard with or without sheep.

In this episode, you will hear:

• What is regenerative agriculture and the core principles behind it
• Why regenerative agriculture is important for vineyards
• The benefits and challenges of grazing sheep in the vineyard
• Modifying vineyard design and the Watson training system for grazing sheep
• Considerations to weigh before adding sheep to your vineyard
• Ways to add regenerative agriculture principles into your vineyard without adding livestock

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and helps spread the word about the podcast.

Resources

Click the "Ask Fritz" button at VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com if you have questions about this episode or any other grape-growing questions.

Learn more about topics discussed in today's episode:

• Watch Fritz's video - Watson Training System – Setup through Production
• Watch Kelly's video - Effectively Managing Sheep in Vineyards
• Learn more about Paicines Ranch.
• Come grow with Fritz through VirtualViticultureAcademy.com! Save $75 off your first year of membership with the code Underground at checkout.

Today's Guest:

Kelly Mulville is a global agricultural consultant and the Vineyard Director at Paicines Ranch in San Benito County, California. He focuses on the design and management of vineyard systems to restore and increase ecosystem health, biodiversity, and profitability, which often entails integrating livestock seasonally or throughout the year.

Connect with Kelly at Paicinesranch.com. Follow Paicines Ranch – Instagram | Facebook | YouTube.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Nitrogen is one of the most popular nutrients for wine growers when it comes to general fertilization. However, many of us don't understand exactly why it's utilized. We don't understand the deeper reasons behind why nitrogen is so powerful.

If you relate to that, no need to worry. I brought my good friend Paul Crout onto the show today to help us understand all things nitrogen.

Paul is one of the foremost experts on vineyard nutrition and spray, a leading pest control advisor, and a Certified Crop Advisor. He is currently practicing these skills as an agronomist with Helena Agri-Enterprises in California. He creates fertility plans and holds training programs for growers across the country.

Paul is joining us today to talk about nitrogen sources and application strategies for your vineyard. He also dives into nitrogen testing. Paul is one of the only other people who can nerd out about vineyard nutrition as much as me so I hope you enjoy our incredible conversation!

In this episode, you will hear:

• What the plant nutrition training programs Paul holds are like.
• What nitrogen is.
• Common sources of nitrogen for vineyards, including organic sources.
• Nitrogen application faux pas.
• How to time your nitrogen application and the best methods for doing so.
• When foliar nitrogen is useful.
• How to adjust nitrogen application based on the maturity of the vine and the weather.
• When a vineyard has no need to apply nitrogen.
• Various methods of nitrogen testing and what to look for in those tests.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about.

Today's Guest:

Paul Crout is a leading Pest Control Advisor and Certified Crop Advisor and one of the foremost experts on wine grape nutrition and spray adjuvants. He currently works as an Agronomist with Helena Agri-Enterprises in California. Connect with Paul on LinkedIn and learn more about being Grape Wise

Resources

Click the "Ask Fritz" button at VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com if you have questions about this episode or any other grape growing questions.

Check out these free Nutrition & Fertilization Grower Guides from VirtualViticultureAcademy.com

• Download the PDF Guide - Know Where Your Nutrients Come From
• Watch the 6 minute video - How to Properly Sample Leaf Tissue for Analysis
• Get the reference chart - Target Nutrient Values – Whole Leaves
• Get the reference chart - Target Nutrient Values – Petioles
• Get the reference chart - Target Nutrient Values in Soil
• View the full Grower Guide Library

Come grow with Fritz through VirtualViticultureAcademy.com! Save $75 off your first year of membership with the code Underground at checkout.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In this episode, we are diving into the essential vineyard tasks that you need to complete before bud burst in your vineyard to ensure you're prepared and ready for the growing season. A successful season depends on you and your crew's preparation. You must have a top-to-bottom plan for your vineyard so it can thrive during the upcoming season.

From knowing when you plan to spray your crops and with what products to how you will manage the floor of your vineyard, a few tasks must be done before bud burst. This episode contains the four essential vineyard tasks and a few bonus tips so you can enter the season confident that your vineyard is healthy and prepared.

Enjoy, and please reach out if you have follow-up vineyard preparation questions after you listen.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How to correct pruning mistakes to ensure your shoots grow correctly.

• Tips on leaving clear buds on the spur positions.

• How to prepare yourself with spray products for the season.

• Fertilization tips if you have annual herbicide drift issues.

• If mowing or tilling your cover crop is best for your vineyard.

• And more!

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.

We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources

Click the "Ask Fritz" button at VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com to get your vineyard question answered.

Book Fritz for your grower organization events.

Learn to Be a Better Grape Grower with VirtualViticultureAcademy.com - save $75 off your first year of membership with the code Underground at checkout.

Episode Resource Links:

View the Pre-Bud Burst Vineyard Preparation Checklist

View the full Grower Guide Library

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In today's episode, we get to listen in as Fritz presents the keynote presentation at the 2023 Ohio Grape & Wine Conference focusing on the holistic approach to vine health, production, and vineyard longevity along with best practice innovations for holistic vineyard management. Embracing a holistic approach entails looking at the complete system from the time you plant your vineyard through the life of your vineyard with focuses on:

• Vine Establishment

• Soil Quality & Vine Nutrition

• Vine Management Practices

• Disease Suppression & Exclusion

• Vine Longevity & Sustained Yields

In this episode, you will hear:

• What a holistic vineyard management approach looks like

• Grower innovations to address vineyard challenges

• Soil conservation practices

• A closed system approach to vine training

• Vine training best practices

• Why shoot thinning during the green vegetative cycle is important

• Use of the Watson System across the country to solve diverse vineyard challenges

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.

We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Click the "Ask Fritz" button at VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com to get your vineyard question answered.

Book Fritz for your grower organization events.

Learn to Be a Better Grape Grower with VirtualViticultureAcademy.com - save $75 off your first year of membership with the code Underground at checkout.

Episode Resource Links:

View the Holistic Approach to Vine Health, Production & Longevity PDF.

View the full Grower Guide Library.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

On today's episode of Vineyard Underground, I'm answering questions from winegrape growers across the country (and the world) on 7 very different topics. Listen in as my answers to these questions just might help you with questions you have had for your vineyard as well.

If you have questions you need to be answered for your vineyard, remember you can click the Ask Fritz button at VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com

In this episode, you will hear:

• How to identify and treat Phomopsis

• When and how to decide if struggling young vines should be replaced

• How to prevent damage from grape root borer

• How to move from a VSP (vertical shoot position) training system to a high-wire system

• Approaches for handling weed management

• Criteria for determining the best cane to use for trunks

• When and how to plant potted vines

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.

We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Click the "Ask Fritz" button at VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com to get your vineyard question answered.

Learn to Be a Better Grape Grower with VirtualViticultureAcademy.com - save $75 off your first year of membership with the code Underground at checkout.

Episode Resource Links:

View the full Grower Guide Library

Episode 12 - Diseases of Pruning Wounds with Kendra Baumgartner

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Pruning wounds can leave your vines and trunks susceptible to certain disease-causing pathogens. While this is an inevitable part of growing a vineyard, there are certain pruning practices that can mitigate the risks. It's also useful to familiarize yourself with the different infection processes between diseases so you have better agency to approach these vineyard problems accordingly.

Joining today's conversation is Dr. Kendra Baumgartner, a USDA ARS research plant pathologist, who runs the research program in sustainable viticulture at UC Davis. Kendra focuses on the development of effective and efficient control strategies for fungal diseases of grapes. One of her areas of focus includes pruning wounds that affect trunks and cordons. Listen in as Kendra shares her in-depth knowledge about this topic.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Types of pruning wounds that are at risk of infection
• Understanding the healing process of pruning wounds
• Top diseases on vines and trunk - symptoms and prevention
• Practices and products for dealing with infections

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.

We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Click the "Ask Fritz" button at VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com to get your vineyard question answered.

Learn to Be a Better Grape Grower with VirtualViticultureAcademy.com.

Upcoming FREE Virtual Learning Events:

Using Soil Moisture Monitoring for Irrigation Management - February 9, 2023 | 6:00-7:30 PM CST

Episode Resource Links:

NEW - Pruning Video Course - Top Pruning Mistakes

How-To-Guide - Preventing Grapevine Trunk Disease

Video - Pruning Shear Sharpening

View the full Grower Guide Library

Today's Guest:

Kendra Baumgartner

USDA-ARS Research Plant Pathologist

UC Davis Campus in California

[email protected]

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.