Vine status

Probably because of the cooler temperature, the vines did not move as much as I hoped. As with last week, many Chardonnay shoots do not bear flower clusters, and relatively strong shoots are from the main trunks. Hybrids and table grapes, on the other hand, have been producing more fruitful buds. If you have not had a chance, please see my previous post about disease management after the frost event.

Disease risks 5/21-5/27/2026

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.

As the model predicted last week, several days with a high risk of downy mildew were observed in many places. Also, the risk of powdery mildew was high in many places. As we discussed in the previous virtual vineyard meeting (which is coming next week, by the way), we still need to maintain our vines so they have healthy canopies that support bud formation for next year, cane or spur selection, and winter survival.

Downy mildew forecast

Unlike last week, we have two days with a moderate risk of downy mildew throughout the state, but after that, things are looking better. Please refer to my previous post about downy mildew management. Since we had a week-long rain, I will include a phos acid in my next spray, which is scheduled for this Friday.

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