I have searched and searched for a good teaching video for my home vines. We moved from the UK to Portugal 2 years ago and didn't know what we are doing, despite our home being surrounded by vine yards! So far we have not had any grapes, but now I realise we cut off all the stems from the year before so we couldn't grow any fruit! Thank you, all 3 videos are really clear and VERY helpful. Please can you make some videos about pruning through the year for those of us who don't know anything - you are by far the clearest instructor I have watched. Thanks again.
This was an awesome tutorial! 5 years ago my dear friend, Jerry, whom is now departed this realm, came and rototilled my parents property, which I’ve inherited. He hit an old root system, which my husband was going to throw on the burn pile. But suddenly, I said “WAIT!, This is where Dad had his wine grapes, and that might be a root!” My husband scoffed at the idea, but my friend Jerry, gushed out ‘well gawlee’ (Just like Gomer Pile!) I planted that piece of root/ wood, even though my hubby said it was just a piece of junk. Well, that piece of junk grew roots, and then sprouted out one scrawny vine, about mid summer. After that I just let it grow, without much trimming. The 2nd summer I got a couple of cups of grapes! Then each year, more & more! Last year I harvested 33lbs of delicious blush colored wine grapes (2-4 seeds per grape). I’ve made Grape Juice, Jelly & Leather out of both the (de-seeded) pulp and the juice. My issue was how do I prune them “this year”, so they will remain abundant producer… Thank you for such a detailed, visual, tutorial!
Now this video was more clearly explained than other videos. Planning my average suburban backyard small garden. What I have learnt so far. For arbor grapevine layout use cane pruning. The only thing you didn't mention is why you chose next years canes. You just said " here and here". I'm guessing any 2 that look healthy will do. Also the length of a cane confuses me. I've planned a 4m long trellis wires from a T post to the house. It's never mentioned in any grapevine videos if there is a length limit on canes. I'm taking a punt that a 4m cane length is ok. Thanks for the video.
Great video... but I also need help with some vines that were let go for a couple of years and are a mess.... not sure how far I can cut it back... but this was helpful as to where I want to be
Excellent video! Very informative. Great job of explaining what your doing and how to do it.I'm growing jupiter grapes, I'll try the trick you've tried ,greetings from Kalimantan, Indonesia
Thanks for the excellent instructional video. I have been reluctant to trim my grapevines at home. So they are a wild mess with little fruit. Now I understand the direction I should be heading.
One thing I still dont get though, is that when making the replacement spurs, wont they get higher and higher each year? It's always coming from new growths so at some point wont they be too high and you have to get rid of the vine?
Hi @pastpianist where possible, choosing the lowest spur as your replacement spur will help delay the height increase - though with cane pruning in Nick’s video, it’s natural the vine may grow a little bit taller each year, however, it would take a long time for the vine to grow so much in height it becomes unmanageable. Nevertheless, in saying this, it’s likely that water shoots (shoots arising from dormant buds on wood that’s older than 1 year) will push out from other areas of the vine (including the crown) in years when the vines have excess capacity. The pruner will be aware of the value of these water shoots and will use these canes to create new spur positions and prevent the vine from going too high. Generally, these shoots are less fruitful and are removed at pruning unless required to provide replacement fruiting wood.
Why are the 2 renewal spurs above the one fruiting cane? No issues with more dominant growth out of the spurs over the fruiting cane off the same side of the vine? I was taught to have the spurs below the fruiting lay down cane so that the major energy went into the apical fruiting cane. Is this not right or is it that your lay down canes are short and thus plenty of energy for fruiting canes and spurs regardless of positions? Thank you.
I'm sure there's plenty of vigor in any decent vine. But yeah also they may not have that apex dominant habit since they would like to grow outwards all along the ground
Definitely have to rewatch this series a few times to get a better understanding on identifying what is what....but you did an excellent job teaching and instructing, i appreciate you for sharing this with us 🤝
Awe man! I have 3 concord. 2 Thompson and 2 flame. Going crazy over here. There about 3 years old.. first couple years took a good beating from deer, weather, and me, so they are just now starting to thrive. I'm putting up my trellis soon and am just going crazy with how I'm going to do this. I know Thompson require came pruning and the other 2 spur pruning. It's the cane pruning that's getting me scared. Plus i have them all lined up next to each other with both Thompsons on the ends. I'm thinking of running a two cane wire at around 3 and 5 feet. Will Thompsons be able to be cane pruned on those? Will they even need the second wire? I'm not even sure if the other grapes will need it. All new to me. Anyways, I'll be watching your videos over and over.. and over again until i get it done. Thanks a ton!
Brilliantly simple video and explanation. Thank you.
I have searched and searched for a good teaching video for my home vines. We moved from the UK to Portugal 2 years ago and didn't know what we are doing, despite our home being surrounded by vine yards! So far we have not had any grapes, but now I realise we cut off all the stems from the year before so we couldn't grow any fruit! Thank you, all 3 videos are really clear and VERY helpful. Please can you make some videos about pruning through the year for those of us who don't know anything - you are by far the clearest instructor I have watched. Thanks again.
This series is the best grape pruning information on all of youtube. Great job.
This was an awesome tutorial! 5 years ago my dear friend, Jerry, whom is now departed this realm, came and rototilled my parents property, which I’ve inherited. He hit an old root system, which my husband was going to throw on the burn pile. But suddenly, I said “WAIT!, This is where Dad had his wine grapes, and that might be a root!” My husband scoffed at the idea, but my friend Jerry, gushed out ‘well gawlee’ (Just like Gomer Pile!)
I planted that piece of root/ wood, even though my hubby said it was just a piece of junk.
Well, that piece of junk grew roots, and then sprouted out one scrawny vine, about mid summer. After that I just let it grow, without much trimming. The 2nd summer I got a couple of cups of grapes! Then each year, more & more! Last year I harvested 33lbs of delicious blush colored wine grapes (2-4 seeds per grape). I’ve made Grape Juice, Jelly & Leather out of both the (de-seeded) pulp and the juice.
My issue was how do I prune them “this year”, so they will remain abundant producer… Thank you for such a detailed, visual, tutorial!
Now this video was more clearly explained than other videos.
Planning my average suburban backyard small garden.
What I have learnt so far. For arbor grapevine layout use cane pruning.
The only thing you didn't mention is why you chose next years canes. You just said " here and here".
I'm guessing any 2 that look healthy will do.
Also the length of a cane confuses me.
I've planned a 4m long trellis wires from a T post to the house.
It's never mentioned in any grapevine videos if there is a length limit on canes. I'm taking a punt that a 4m cane length is ok.
Thanks for the video.
Most wineries laying down canes usually leave 6 to 8 buds on the cane.
Great video... but I also need help with some vines that were let go for a couple of years and are a mess.... not sure how far I can cut it back... but this was helpful as to where I want to be
Excellent video! Very informative. Great job of explaining what your doing and how to do it.I'm growing jupiter grapes, I'll try the trick you've tried ,greetings from Kalimantan, Indonesia
All three videos are informative and practically use full! 😊
Question: Seems with this technique you'll run into the issue of the vine continuing to gain height year after year - how do you compensate for that?
That guy is quick, but I guess if you had to do all those, you get pretty good at it. Good video, thanks!
Thanks for the excellent instructional video. I have been reluctant to trim my grapevines at home. So they are a wild mess with little fruit.
Now I understand the direction I should be heading.
One thing I still dont get though, is that when making the replacement spurs, wont they get higher and higher each year? It's always coming from new growths so at some point wont they be too high and you have to get rid of the vine?
Hi @pastpianist where possible, choosing the lowest spur as your replacement spur will help delay the height increase - though with cane pruning in Nick’s video, it’s natural the vine may grow a little bit taller each year, however, it would take a long time for the vine to grow so much in height it becomes unmanageable. Nevertheless, in saying this, it’s likely that water shoots (shoots arising from dormant buds on wood that’s older than 1 year) will push out from other areas of the vine (including the crown) in years when the vines have excess capacity. The pruner will be aware of the value of these water shoots and will use these canes to create new spur positions and prevent the vine from going too high. Generally, these shoots are less fruitful and are removed at pruning unless required to provide replacement fruiting wood.
You're amazing in teaching! thank you.
so very helpful. thank you for the series
Why are the 2 renewal spurs above the one fruiting cane? No issues with more dominant growth out of the spurs over the fruiting cane off the same side of the vine? I was taught to have the spurs below the fruiting lay down cane so that the major energy went into the apical fruiting cane. Is this not right or is it that your lay down canes are short and thus plenty of energy for fruiting canes and spurs regardless of positions? Thank you.
I'm sure there's plenty of vigor in any decent vine. But yeah also they may not have that apex dominant habit since they would like to grow outwards all along the ground
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, especially for me who just wants to learn to grow grapes

Great job very helpful,but still very complicated for me to understand properly😔 very soon wset l3 exam!
I have tried your method before. With your permission, I will copy the movie and subscribe to you
Definitely have to rewatch this series a few times to get a better understanding on identifying what is what....but you did an excellent job teaching and instructing, i appreciate you for sharing this with us 🤝
Why would you cane prune vs spur prune? Im growing red table grapes and have been spur pruning but not sure if that is ideal?
Are you using cane pruning for table grape like red cardinals? Do you always change the fruiting cane every year for table grapes?
I can across this video on Grape grower folio - there are lots useful videos there that may help out
Thank for making this video. What season is this best done in Australia?
All your is very good video , the way explaining clearly , and the technique very good
Am I the only one who is confused, lol?
Nope. That's why I'll just keep watching the videos until I finally understand it.
Me too😂
Thankyou this was visibly a very graphic explanation. 🤗
❤❤❤❤
Thank ou for taking the time to show us how to prune grapevines
Nice cane pruning video. Thank you!
This was really well done thank you!
Well done!
Awe man! I have 3 concord. 2 Thompson and 2 flame. Going crazy over here. There about 3 years old.. first couple years took a good beating from deer, weather, and me, so they are just now starting to thrive. I'm putting up my trellis soon and am just going crazy with how I'm going to do this. I know Thompson require came pruning and the other 2 spur pruning. It's the cane pruning that's getting me scared. Plus i have them all lined up next to each other with both Thompsons on the ends. I'm thinking of running a two cane wire at around 3 and 5 feet. Will Thompsons be able to be cane pruned on those? Will they even need the second wire? I'm not even sure if the other grapes will need it. All new to me. Anyways, I'll be watching your videos over and over.. and over again until i get it done. Thanks a ton!
Are u using a rootstok or ownroot ..? Thx