Under vine cover crops trial:  clover, October, 2014. Clover died back somewhat during the dry summer but recovered nicely with a little rain in the fall.

 Under vine cover crops trial: fescue, October, 2014. Though slow to start, fescue has filled in nicely. Both the clover and fescue plots were established in 2011.

 Under vine mowing, summer 2014.  We mowed three times in 2014: May 15, July 11 and August 27. Normally, we mow 4-5 times/season. The summer was dry on Long Island.

 Under vine cover crops trial: area maintained with 2 applications of glyphosate (May and July), Oct. 2014

Sampling cover crops just prior to harvest in order to measure dry weights, Oct. 2014.

Under vine cover crop trial on the North Fork of Long Island, June, 2014 : fescue and clover plots.

View of the Merlot block at LIHREC. Just waiting for veraison. 

This is a photo from June but I like the contrast between the row with herbicide and the row with seeded clover. This was taken at Duck Walk on Bergen Ave.

Here is a shot from Martha Clara Vineyards. This is where we have the seeded ground covers. In this photo you can see three of the four treatments. On the left is the no mow, a fine fescue that reportedly will not grow taller than the fruiting wire. In the middle is the clover only. On the right herbicide has been applied. This was taken last Friday and the vines are not yet in bloom.

Here is a spring shot of two treatments at Martha Clara. The one on the left is the no mow only which seems to be well established and keeping most of the weeds out, minus a few dandelions. The one on the right is no mow with clover. The clover took much longer to reestablish giving the no mow time to spread. It looks like the clover also gave the no mow a little nitrogen, the growth is much more lush than on the left. There is also more room for the no mow where the clover has died back, maybe less competition?

Under Trellis Management Webcast 

Friday, April 4, 2014, 9:00-11:00am

Featuring:

Dr. Justine Vanden Heuvel, Cornell University

Dr. Tony Wolf, Virginia Tech

Learn about the use of green covers under vines, a management tool that allows a reduction in herbicide use and helps to manage vine vigor.  Additional impacts, including influences on fruit quality, will be discussed.

This webcast is hosted by Alice Wise and Libby Tarleton, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. There is no charge for participation. Attendees will view this meeting on their own computer.

RSVP is required – please respond to Libby @ lt68@cornell.edu. 

Several days before the meeting, we will forward an e-mail with instructions on how to join the webcast. Please note that you will have to download a program to your computer prior to the meeting. Please leave adequate time to accomplish this. Details will be provided in the e-mail.