How to Prune Thompson Grape Vines
Seedless Thompson grapes are one of the most popular grape varieties and are usually the kind of grapes sold in grocery stores. Thompson grape vines are heavy producers, yielding 20 to 30 clusters of pale-green grapes per vine. Because the Thompson grape vine is such a vigorous grower and fruit producer, proper pruning is essential to keeping the vine healthy and productive. Many different pruning methods exist for grape vines, but the “four-cane Kniffen method” is the easiest. Prune your Thompson grape vine in late winter or early spring, or in mid-winter when the canes have hardened, if you’re performing heavier pruning.
Select two canes on each side of the main vine that are the healthiest young canes. Tie colored yarn onto the canes to mark them.
- Seedless Thompson grapes are one of the most popular grape varieties and are usually the kind of grapes sold in grocery stores.
- Because the Thompson grape vine is such a vigorous grower and fruit producer, proper pruning is essential to keeping the vine healthy and productive.
Clip back the selected canes if necessary so that they have no more than 20 buds each. Make clean cuts when you’re pruning the vine.
Remove the other canes, leaving the selected ones intact on the vine. Cut the other canes back to the main vine, but leave 10 or 12 short spurs, or two buds, on either side of the trunk for growing the following year’s canes.
Prune away all watersprouts or “watershoots” growing from the base of the main vine. Cut away any canes that are more than 1-year-old.
Prune away and destroy any diseased fruit, canes or leaves, especially if your grape vine is infected with a fungal disease. Be sure to disinfect your pruning tools before and after pruning diseased vines.
- Clip back the selected canes if necessary so that they have no more than 20 buds each.
Tip
Keep in mind that most viable grapes grow from 1-year-old buds on young canes. By pruning away all the older canes and keeping the vine with a limited amount of canes, your fruit quality will increase, along with the vine’s health and growth.
Warning
Don’t prune your Thompson grape vine too late in the spring. Aim for pruning while the vine is dormant so that the pruning cuts don’t ooze sap that could attract insects and other pests.
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References
Tips
- Keep in mind that most viable grapes grow from 1-year-old buds on young canes. By pruning away all the older canes and keeping the vine with a limited amount of canes, your fruit quality will increase, along with the vine's health and growth.
Warnings
- Don't prune your Thompson grape vine too late in the spring. Aim for pruning while the vine is dormant so that the pruning cuts don't ooze sap that could attract insects and other pests.
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Sarah Terry brings over 10 years of experience writing novels, business-to-business newsletters and a plethora of how-to articles. Terry has written articles and publications for a wide range of markets and subject matters, including Medicine & Health, Eli Financial, Dartnell Publications and Eli Journals.
