If you haven't seen it already, look at Grafting part one before reading on.  Once the new grafts have taken hold, the vines are liable to grow roots at the point of the graft. These roots must be removed for two reasons. Firstly they are too close to the surface, and would be torn up when ploughing, but more importantly, they are roots from the grafted varietal stock. If they were allowed to root properly, it would lay the vine open phylloxera, and it would sicken and die after a couple of years.
As well as the roots that shoot from the graft, the peu or rootstock sometimes continues to shoot. Seen here on the left as yellow shoots, they too must be removed as they are unproductive growth that takes sap away from the main growth.
The area just beneath the surface is cleared, and the new surface roots and shoots removed, leaving the graft clear. Note the new growth at the top of the grafted branch. This is what becomes the trunk of the vine
Once clear, the graft is covered with earth again, and the tender shoot staked to prevent any damage from the wind. The extent (and speed) of growth once the grafts have taken is surprising. A number of the vines in this vineyard even had grapes on them, although they are only expected to produce a small crop next year, and this year none at all. |
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