Summer Pruning

Also called green pruning, this is done to remove excess growth and foliage. It is an activity that takes place throughout May and June, and like winter pruning, has do be done by hand, vine by vine.

One of the main activities is to remove the suckers that often grow between the main shoot and the individual branches. (If you've ever grown tomatoes, it's much the same process). These suckers take vital nutrients away from the main growth of the vine, and more importantly - also from the grapes.

As well as removing the suckers, on these trellised vines they also remove any excess shoots. Nonetheless, in the photograph on the right, Sergi has decided to leave the shoot by his left hand, as next winter he will prune the whole of the knot by his right hand and leave the shoot on the left for future growth. If this was not done periodically, the growth of the vine would get gradually higher and higher. In this case therefore, one of the three shoots on the right is removed, leaving the shoot on the left.

The finished result: As well as removing suckers and excess shoots, one of the key aspects of green pruning is removing the foliage around the grapes so that they receive more nutrients and sunshine. This also has the advantage that when the grapes are sprayed against disease, the liquid can reach the grapes directly, and that they are less likely to be diseased with less foliage around them.