Grapes Vines Got Frozen. What to Do?

[DavidKerk]

Hi, I recently dug up some grape veins (I think concord, they are the ones that have skin that you can slide off) from my grandpa's partially deserted patch. They were growing good and looked like they were going to flower when we got one of MI famous late frosts. The developing leaves died. There are now what looks to be some new buds sprouting on some of the plants. What should I do? Thanks!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Are you worried about more frosts? Or are you wondering if you should go ahead and put them in the ground? Not sure what you are asking.

 

[DavidKerk]

I had put them into the ground about a day before the frost. We shouldn't get any more frosts. I'm wondering what I should do now that they're buds are dead. They seem to be growing some more leaves, but I'm not sure. Thanks!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I had put them into the ground about a day before the frost. We shouldn't get any more frosts. I'm wondering what I should do now that they're buds are dead. They seem to be growing some more leaves, but I'm not sure. Thanks!

Personally I wouldn't clip them or trim off anything at this point. My grapevines tend to be very sensitive to pruning. I'd just let the new leaves emerge and baby them with watering as needed through the summer.

You can always prune to shape them after they go dormant later this year in my opinion.

 

[DavidKerk]

Personally I wouldn't clip them or trim off anything at this point. My grapevines tend to be very sensitive to pruning. I'd just let the new leaves emerge and baby them with watering as needed through the summer.

You can always prune to shape them after they go dormant later this year in my opinion.

Thanks! I won't prune them. Good thing you said not to as I was thinking about it! Also, I might grab some more plants from my grandpa's patch because his were barely touched by the frost. I'll use those to replace the ones that were totally killed by the frost.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I did a lot of reading on how to prune grapevines when I first got mine and dutifully pruned them way back. I waited until they were dormant and everything.

Then I discovered that if I just didn't prune them at ALL (except to keep them from leaving the grapevine zone LOL) they give many many more grapes. One year I hardly had any grapes at all and the next year I had several large bowlfuls from my vines- the only difference being the pruning.

I don't know if this is typical or not. I only have 4 grapevines that are mature (and some others that are little still), and am certainly no expert. So I don't prune them back except just a bit around the edges so I can see under there to check for eggs and to keep them from overtaking the fence.

Hopefully some other people can chime in here too- hopefully more experienced. Here are my vines! You can see around the edges I have clipped them so I could see under for eggs last year when they had leaves. Their leaves have grown back in since this pic was taken.

 

[Life is Good!]

Our grapes are in similar situation - frozen blossoms=no harvest this year. But do not prune them...they might also be having some root stress from moving. Baby those plants - mulch deeply to help the roots re-form, and let them be this year. You can prune next winter, I usually do this in January on one of those rare 'nice' winter days. The grapevines are pliable enough to turn into wreaths at that time also.

 

[DavidKerk]

Our grapes are in similar situation - frozen blossoms=no harvest this year. But do not prune them...they might also be having some root stress from moving. Baby those plants - mulch deeply to help the roots re-form, and let them be this year. You can prune next winter, I usually do this in January on one of those rare 'nice' winter days. The grapevines are pliable enough to turn into wreaths at that time also.

O.K. I won't prune them. Thanks for the post! It was very helpful!