New growth 2012

The 2012 growing season is ripping right along. We experienced a VERY early budbreak, three weeks early. The petit manseng erupted March 23rd. The petit verdot followed a week later. So far, so good. I have already sprayed the vineyard twice. The only signs of mildew have been on the lowest leaves of 2011 planted vines. The vineyard looks great right now.

Petit manseng, 23-March-2012.

Petit manseng, 01-April-2012

Petit verdot, 01-April-2012.

Petit verdot, 01-April-2012.

But something wicked this way comes... Significant deer damage has already been seen in the orchard. Deer are eating the tender leaves from pear trees. So far, the sprays have deterred the deer in the vineyard. I pulled a page from the Vintage Virginia Apples playbook. I visited Chuck Shelton, and purchased their little cloth bags. Mr. Shelton fills the bags with milorganite and ties them to all of their fruit trees. The deer do not like the smell (Milwaukee sewage - yuck). Now, Firstfruits Vineyard is full of bags. I will keep you updated...

Milorganite deer deterrent. 

One final note: weather. Weather makes us or breaks us (reference 2011). Temperatures in the 80s in mid-March helped expedite bud break.  Well, we now face a very chilly week ahead. There is a freeze warning tonight, but a big freeze may be coming. We just received notice that a hard freeze may hit central Virginia in seven days. Hoping for the best, planning for the worst.