I need some advice on "trimming grapevines for dummies".?

Question

I have several concord grape vines and a few other kinds that I planted last year. I put up wire and pole supports for them and now they are about 3 feet tall. I saw a basic illustration on how to trim the canes back to about 4 main stems. This is what confuses me- if grapes won't grow on old wood, do I cut off the canes that my grapes grow on next year when they are finished and wait for a new cane to grow out and replace it? How many buds should ther be on the whole plant? If I prune too much or too little, will the grapes still grow?
Finally- since we had such a drought this year and the grapes were very dry, if I want them healthy nexy year, should I fertilize them? With what?
thank you,
I'm new to this but I love gardening.

Answer 1

If your vines are about 3 feet tall, leave them alone this winter. In the spring, the buds on the trunk will sprout new branches. Let these grow out next year.

Next late fall / early winter (after the vine looks pretty much dead), pick two branches at the top of the trunk that will run to the left side and right side of the trunk. About a foot below that, pick two more left and right branches. Cut off all of the other branches that sprouted from the trunk.

These 4 branches must now be suspended on a trellis or wire strung across horizontally at their level (probably about 4 feet in either direction). You can get metal fence stakes that you can drive into the ground and then string wire between them at the right heights. Whether you use a trellis or wire, use plastic plant tape to tie the side branches across the wire/trellis. Cut these branches at the ends (about 4 feet long). Wait until next spring.

The next spring, each of the buds on the horizontal "arms" will sprout into a new branch. Let these grow out throughout the summer. Again, when the vine looks completely dead, cut each of the new branches to where there are two buds left on each stub. Remove any branches that may have sprouted from the main trunk. Wait until next spring.

The buds on the small branches may or may not produce fruit this time around. Either way, let them all grow out. Again, when the vine looks dead, cut the latest branches to have just two buds left. You'll do this every year and these buds will be the fruit producers.

Don't worry about drought this year or even next year. Grapes tend to have a good year - bad year cycle of fruit production. And, yours aren't ready to bear fruit for at least a couple more years, anyway.

BTW - if you want more grape plants of the same variety, take one of the stems you cut off, cut it to about 3 feet long and, in winter (December or January), stick it about 1 foot into the ground. In about 4 or 5 years, you'll have new fruit-bearing vines.

Answer 2

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RE:
I need some advice on "trimming grapevines for dummies".?
I have several concord grape vines and a few other kinds that I planted last year. I put up wire and pole supports for them and now they are about 3 feet tall. I saw a basic illustration on how to trim the canes back to about 4 main stems. This is what confuses me- if grapes won't grow on old...

Answer 3

Pruning Grapes For Dummies