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Section 1.3: Field Grafting versus Replanting

Swim Admin

Field grafting has many benefits over replanting:

  • Valuable existing vineyard infrastructure — trellising, irrigation, vine trunks — can be utilised.
  • Fruiting canes can be rapidly established and fill cordon wire.
  • Vines have a faster return to full yield production — 1 year for grafted vines compared with 3-5 years for replanted vines.
  • Top-working existing tall trunks results in faster cordon establishment (due to the shoots from the scion being closer to the wire), avoids the added expense of vine guards and weed management associated with new plantings, and involves less bending for staff/contractors (OHS considerations).
  • There is less pressure on irrigation and nutrition from established trunks and root systems of grafted rootstocks.
  • There is less pest and disease pressure with grafted vines, especially from chewing pests, while sprays are easier to apply at cordon height compared with newly panted vines.
  • Grafted vines are less vulnerable to extreme heat compared with new plantings.
  • In most cases, vines can be machine harvested in the first year after grafting, which is a considerable cost saving when compared with hand harvesting newly planted vines.
  • Vine balance is achieved faster and at higher yield.