Our weather in Central Maryland has been beautiful this month of March. We have had and continue to have a string of above average temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s. Finishing up the warmer than average winter, the spring show of colors has started early. Spring flowering trees are in their full colorful display of blossoms. Shrubs such as forsythia are in bloom. Did our few grapevines not get the memo? The grapes are starting to put forth a bud, but they are taking their time and seem to be in no rush.
So they didn’t get the message, or they’re smarter than that. I heard somewhere that grapevines are one of the more advanced life forms on the planet. If so they are on their timeline and not influenced by weather extremes. In 2011 I pruned the vines on March 19th, this year I pruned on March 11th. In 2011 the Dornfelder vines were weeping by March 25th, this year they started weeping on March 15th. Compared to last year, the vines are about a week to ten days ahead of where they were in 2011, a cooler than average winter.
Why aren’t the grapevines as advanced as spring flowering trees, shrubs and flowers? Although we did have a warmer than average winter, up till March 11th most of the evening temperatures dipped below freezing. There were a few days that the temperatures didn’t go that low, however, most of winter saw below freezing lows. This helped keep the grapevines in check. This recent string of twenty degree above normal weather though has sent the other plants into a hyper showcase of awakening. The long-range forecast places us back in the average range for the end of March. It is a good idea that the grapevines are taking their time.
Cheers,
Terry
Leave a Reply