Vine status

I found several third instars of spotted lanternfly (toward upper right, just below the catch wires) and ants enjoying their honeydew on a leaf.

The situation is similar to last week. Our Chardonnay vines are reaching the top catch wires, with some shoots bearing BB-size berries and others just finishing bloom… Hybrids and table grapes are a bit more consistent with fruitful buds. Vidal is in fruit set, and some others, e.g., Frontenc, were at pea-size berries.

Due to uneven growth and development, even within the same block, you probably need to be diligent with fungicide rotation to avoid relying on the same material, as we discussed in the last virtual meeting. If you have not had a chance yet, please see my previous post on pre-bloom/bloom disease management.

Disease risks 6/10-6/17/2026

NEWA is an Agricultural Weather Station Network, and we are part of the team. Here is a snapshot from last week showing the number of days with risk for each disease: Ph = Phomopsis, PW = Powdery mildew, BR = Black rot, and DM = Downy mildew. N/A means there is no data or issues with the NEWA. I am waiting to hear back from the weather station company about fixing the one in Stafford.

Last week’s rain [which we (= Winchester) did not receive as much as we hoped] increased the risks of downy mildew, especially in the southwestern part of the state. As we discussed in the previous virtual vineyard meetings, we still need to maintain our vines to ensure healthy canopies that support bud formation for next year, cane or spur selection, and winter survival.

Downy mildew forecast

It looks like rain is expected on Sunday – Monday. Please refer to my previous post about downy mildew management. 

The downy mildew forecasting effort is supported by the Virginia Wine Board.