FREDERICKSBURG/COMFORT — The Texas AgriLife Extension Service will present the New Vineyard Establishment Workshop — Part 1 on May 31 at the Fovel Family Vineyard, 1027 Middle Creek Road, Fredericksburg.
The program will be from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to dress in accordance with the weather and to be prepared to walk through various parts of the vineyard during the workshop.
“We also encourage attendees to bring a sack lunch with them,” said Penny Adams, AgriLife Extension viticulture adviser for the Texas Hill Country.
Adams said the workshop is essential for anyone who is planning to plant or has recently installed a commercial vineyard. The training will provide in-depth information and demonstrations to help start-up growers avoid costly mistakes.
“Vineyard establishment workshops include hands-on activities and demonstrations of equipment and vineyard practices to optimize healthy establishment of vines and efficiency of vineyard design,” she said.
Adams said the May 31 workshop is the first of a two-part series to be conducted at two different vineyards in the Hill Country.
“The May 31 workshop will give participants an up-close look at the newly planted Foval Family Vineyard. The next workshop be June 21 at the unique Bending Branch Estate Vineyard in Comfort,” Adams said.
Topics at the May 31 workshop will include vineyard layout and design, site and soil preparation, variety and rootstock selection, trellis construction and planting grapevines.
The second workshop at the Bending Branch Estate Vineyard, 142 Linder Branch Trail, will address vine training, nutrition and irrigation, as well as weed management and disease control.
These workshops are very useful for those interested in commercial wine-grape production, and even people who have been in the grape-growing business for a while may still pick up worthwhile tips by attending them, Adams said.
The cost for each workshop is $75 and separate registration is required for each. To register, go to the Texas AgriLife Extension Conference Services website, http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu and enter “vineyard” as the keyword, or call 979-845-2604.
For more information on the workshops, contact Adams at 830-997-7047 or psadams@ag.tamu.edu.
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