February 1, 2017

This category can only be viewed by members.

Viticulture and Horticulture

Featured stories covering viticulture and horticulture in this issue.

Click here to view a PDF version of this issue.

The stone Mediterranean-style villa beckons visitors to Mari Vineyards in northwest Lower Michigan. The winery officially opened for business in June. (By Leslie Mertz)

Grand Michigan winery brings Italian red grape varieties, wines north

High tunnels extend vineyard growing season

Understanding the click pruning technique – Video

Can science strengthen graft unions?

Club model seems to be working for SweeTango growers, consumers

Rows of hedged apples trees at Rod Farrow's Lamont Fruit Farm in Waterport, New York in 2016. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower file photo)

Is your orchard robot-ready? – Video

Chris Gottschalk, left, of the Michigan State University Department of Horticulture explains the importance of hard cider variety trials as part of a field day at the Clarksville Research Station in south central Lower Michigan. (by Leslie Mertz)

New research aims to learn more about hard cider apples

Even early in the year, Otterson’s flesh has rich, burgundy tones. Researchers from Michigan State University believe this quality could make the apple an excellent choice for natural red food color, nutraceuticals and ciders. (By Leslie Mertz)

Rosé cider anyone?

Clusters along the Columbia

the researchers smoked post-veraison Riesling grapes the first night of the trial. They carefully selected clusters at different time intervals through the 18-hour marathon, wrapped them in aluminum foil, then bagged them in coolers before taking them to the university winery the next day. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Hansen: A focus on wine research

Gisela 6 in slender spindle or super slender axe (SSA) architecture, all year-old branches are pruned back to the basal flower buds plus one to three vegetative buds to keep fruit production close to the central leader. While it had high yields in years two through four, production has since declined. (Leslie Mertz/Good Fruit Grower)

Battle of the cherry architectures

Times for new vines

Gregory Lang of MSU examines a tree that underwent whole tree renewal before the growing season. With this approach, drastic pruning takes a tree back to the permanent wood. The idea is to provide regrowth of the same age and vigor and with excellent fruit production, while making pruning and harvesting easier. Although early in the trial, initial results are good. This tree, which combines Gisela 3 rootstock and TSA architecture, shows excellent renewal. (by Leslie Mertz)

Michigan researcher finds drastic pruning shows promise for cherries

Chris Oakes, Young Grower from Lyndonville, New York

Lynn Long, center, in black coat behind box speaker, of Oregon State University Extension discusses the finer points of whole tree renewal pruning at an annual winter pruning workshop in December near The Dalles, Oregon. The technique, though seemingly drastic, involves cutting all the limbs of a cherry tree back at the same time to ensure balanced renewal growth. (Ross Courtney/Good Fruit Grower)

Researchers advocate whole tree renewal pruning