Grapes

maclad, Oct 27, 3:50am
Anyone else noticed a decline in the amount of fruit set this year. Just been out to give mine a 'wee snip' and the fruit set is abysmal.
dibble35, Oct 27, 4:57am
My fruit set is pretty good this year. (Whangarei) I was just out trimming mine back as well.
mark_g, Oct 27, 5:37am
My Steuben and Albany surprise look pretty good. But my Candice seedless fruit set is, as per OP, abysmal. Bit surprised by this.
beebb3, Oct 27, 9:03am
I bought Albany Surprise x 2 plants approx 3 years ago, they set 2 little bunches that first year but nothing since? And even then they never came to anything. I thought if they don't this year I am going to pull them out and get some new ones. Got them from the Warehouse and am now wondering if they are just duds! The new growth is approx15 inches long, so I should be seeing some tiny wee bunches now? Advice much appreciated.
lythande1, Oct 27, 6:00pm
No, mine is absolutely stuffed. Rather surprised, I thought I'd prunedit more severely.

beebb3 - don't prune it hard, grapes grow off second year canes, and you are not a vineyard with numerous plants.

It will be slower to get going in your area but a friend in Oxford has 3 and hers are doing well now in their 3rd year.

Watch for frosts, that can kill the flowers off.
docsportello, Oct 27, 7:11pm
Got a Schyuler from the Warehouse last year, Fruitsation brand or whatever it is. Cut the potential grapes off because it was just a baby and i didn't want to unduely stress it. Its somewhat more vigourous this year, about what you'd expect from a hybrid table/wine grape. Only really bought it for the foliage.
harrislucinda, Oct 27, 7:30pm
still early days here to see fruit setting
beebb3, Oct 28, 12:40am
Maybe then am pruning too hard in the autumn? Was told to prune back to 2 buds on side shoots? What would you advise please.
docsportello, Oct 28, 3:24am
Can you post a pic, including where they're planted? A pic would save a thousand words.
dibble35, Oct 28, 3:42am
You're in the same town as O.P. so maybe bit early for her as well. But yes a photo of your vine would be great. It took me a few years to get the pruning of my vines right - still dont know if its the 'correct' way, but my vines all seem to do well now.
samanya, Oct 28, 5:31am
I'm not that great in the pruning grapes dept . any rule of thumb method?
beebb3, Oct 28, 10:30pm
Been on You Tube and looked at lots of pruning senarios, and it appears I am pruning correctly. So will just keep on with 'the pills and ointment' and see what transpires this season. The only question is they only get sun for half the day, but that shouldn't worry them too much for the home gardener.
Sorry unsure of the photo side of things, but thanks for advice.
kam04, Oct 28, 11:21pm
same here ( Kirwee)
samanya, Feb 25, 4:46pm
I checked mine today & it seems to have more than other years . now the next step is to actually get some to eat, before the damned birds beat me to it!