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MColleen Boyle's avatar

Tagging along as you journeyed through your lessons as a novice vineyard owner. Exciting to see the progress as the vines grow to fill your training wire system. So much to learn! Congratulations on your accomplishments to date. Next season will include grapes?

Marshall Vanderburg's avatar

Yes, the next season with grapes, the "perfect storm" of a season!

Ted Wade's avatar

How do you defeat powdery mildew? Down on the prairie more seasons than not it trashes my big-leaved plants: squash/ pumpkins before they really get going.

Marshall Vanderburg's avatar

Many commercial wineries use sulfur and/or copper-based products. Another option I use (some commercial wineries will use it as well), is Stylet Oil. Stylet is a “smotherant”, i.e., it cuts off oxygen from the fungus. It is very effective. The key: don’t wait till you see the mildew. It’s already too late at that point. Spray early, and repeat every so often. This is true for most preventive products, which you can probably find at the garden center (though you probably won’t find Stylet).

Jennifer Campbell's avatar

I so enjoy reading your adventure establishing a vineyard. You have learned so much about it in such a short amount of time. Keep growing so I can live vicariously through you!☺️

Marshall Vanderburg's avatar

Thanks, Jen! Believe it or not, it's an outstanding question whether I enjoy tending to the vineyard more than writing about it...