Vine status
Things are finally moving. I saw quite a few shots from the secondary (or tertiary) buds coming up strongly, especially from the central part of the canopy (i.e., from trunks). However, many do not have flower clusters. 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 5/13-5/20/2026
NEWA is an Agricultural Weather Station Network, and we are part of the team. Here is a snapshot from the last week, showing the number of days with the risk of 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.
Not much is going on during the last week.
Downy mildew forecast
It looks like the model is calling for moderate risks of downy mildew infection next week everywhere (Click to enlarge the table). Even though rain is forecasted, the predicted risks are not high, probably due to the expected cool temperatures. As usual, prevention is the best approach for all of our grape diseases. Please refer to my previous post about downy mildew management.
The downy mildew forecasting effort is supported by the Virginia Wine Board.
