There are five periods during the growing season when growers using a deficit irrigation strategy need to pay close attention to the vine and soil water status, says Dr. Russell Smithyman, viticulture research director at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Bloom to fruit set—If high temperatures occur during bloom, growers may need to meter small amounts of water to avoid a reduction of fruit set. You can overdo stress at bloom time. But this is the same period when you want to slow down shoot growth, so don’t apply too much water. A few hours may be all that’s needed to […]