Air-layering grapes

I am always fiddling with the composition of my orchard and vineyard. Sometimes it is because trees or vines die. Sometimes it is because I become unhappy with a variety that struck my fancy and I over planted. Sometimes it is because my managment style or objectives changed and a given variety doesn't fit as well as it used to.

For instance, the southern-most row in my vineyard was planted mostly to Swenson Red grape. It proved more susceptible to diseases and has a tendency to over-crop if I don't cluster thin. On the other hand, I have three types of seedless grapes in the row that I want more of.

One cane of a seedless grape that is partially shaded by a pear tree. I don't expect much fruit from this cane. Notice the clusters of unopened flowers that will become bunches of grapes.

Those bunches, if allowed to flower, will become carbohydrate sinks. I want those carbs to grow roots. I also stripped the two leaves closest to last-year's cane. The roots strike most easily from new wood and from near the nodes (leaf scar).

For the purposes of experimentation and entertainment, I have an almost endless supply of slightly used, disposable diapers. Well, why not? I intend to wrap these packages of super-absorbent polymer crystals and...ummm, liquid fertilizer.

My initial impression is that the disposable diapers are exceptionally easy to handle in out in the vineyard.