Shortening Old Vines

Discussion in 'Grapes and Grape Vines' started by mheaner, Mar 25, 2007.

  1. mheaner

    mheaner Member

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    Location:
    Vieira do Minho, Portugal
    I recently bought a property in northern Portugal where the vines (Vinho Verde) are trained to 5 parallel wires that go up to about 20 feet. I would like shorter trunks so I can more easily work with the vines. Can I cut a few feet off of the top of the trunks without killing the plant?
     
  2. Ralph Walton

    Ralph Walton Active Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    Denman Island,BC
    Most definitely. Chop away! Twenty feet! What were they thinking?

    Ralph
     
  3. mheaner

    mheaner Member

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    Location:
    Vieira do Minho, Portugal
    Thanks so much for responding, Ralph. Until about 50 years ago the people in this part of Portugal survived on tiny, subsistence farms. The grapes were trained so that they could grow crops underneath the vines. Vines of this height are still common and I see people on tall ladders, painstackingly pruning and tying. I don't have the patience :)
    Mary
     

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