Hello Dear Growers,
Thank you for attending the drought discussion yesterday. I very much appreciate you sharing your experience and mitigation strategies.
Here are the key points that came from the meeting:
- Some growers have little to no irrigation capacity; only rooftop rainwater tanks available. Wells remain usable for now, but could run dry if used for irrigation. Digging new wells may be a future solution.
- Spray effectiveness may be reduced due to limited vine functions.
- Mature vines are holding up with no major colour change in leaves.
- Vinifera varieties are fairing well in the heat and show little risk for next year.
- Hybrids, especially NY Muscat and young Marquette, are more drought-sensitive; basal leaves drying out.
Fruit Management
- Remove all fruit from vines **three years or younger** to preserve plant health.
- Drop top canopy clusters; keep lower ones which receive better plant support. Remember that 15-18 mature leaves support 1 cluster (site and cultivar dependendant).
- Looser clusters preferred to reduce botrytis risk if September rains occur.
- Dropping fruit after veraison offers no plant benefit—Cluster thin now.
1. Malagash area: no rain for six weeks; highs in the upper 30s°C for three days—rapid vine drying, worsened by wind.
2. Heat stress varies by site and variety; monitor drooping for signs of sustained stress. If you see none in the morning and drooping in the afternoon- stress is minimal.
3. Hurricane season poses additional risk (berry burst, botrytis).
Key Observations & Considerations
- Vegetative growth slowed across regions.
- Vinifera generally unaffected; hybrids suffering more.
- Smaller harvest possible; outcome depends on weather in coming weeks.
- Powdery mildew appearing.
Questions on bud fertility and hardiness for next year—severe drought and winter would be needed for major productivity drops. Damage seen next year should be minimal.
It is still early to determine the full extent of this season's drought on this year's harvest.
Katarina Vucic P.Ag; MSc; DipWSET
Viticulture Specialist
Perennia Food and Agriculture
Email kvucic@perennia.ca
Office 902-678-7722
Cell 902-599-1390
