VINEYARD NEWS
CHOOSING THE RIGHT ROOTSTOCK TESSA NICHOLSON
W
hether you are developing a new vineyard or replanting an older one, consideration to which rootstock you choose is an important task. It is one of the many decisions to be made prior to any planting, according to Nick Hoskins, Consultant at Vine Managers Ltd. You also require a good understanding of what you are wanting to achieve in your vineyard. What are your soils and site like? What about climate, variety choice, future management, vine density and clones? They all play a large role in any final decision about rootstock. But perhaps the most important aspect of all, is the end product you want to achieve. Understand all of that and you will be well on the way to making an informed decision on which rootstock you should obtain. At Bragato this year, Hoskins outlined the pros and cons of three rootstock families, Riparia, Rupestris, and Berlanderi.
The following is a summary of each of the differing rootstocks.
Riparia x Rupestris Riparia Gloire - Least vigorous of this group tolerates moist clay soils 3309 - Performs very well across a range of soils good fruit set and even maturity Schwarzmann - Most vigorous of this group improves fruit set. 101-14 - Advances ripening, issues with Black foot. 3306 - Very similar to 3309, graft incompatibility with Merlot 481.
Riparia x Berlanderi SO4 –More vigorous than Riparia Rupestris group subject to
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NZ WINEGROWER DECEMBER 2013/JANUARY 2014
magnesium deficiency , less planted than 5C because of miss-identification. 5C – Very similar to SO4 5BB – Tolerant to moist clay soils not widely planted 420 – Lime tolerant low vigour stock 161-49 – Lime tolerant stock. Berlanderi x Rupestris
Richter 99 – Vigorous Line tolerant stock (later maturity) Richter 110 – Vigorous more drought tolerant than Richter 99, poor compatibility with Pinot Noir Paulsen 1103 – Vigorous and drought tolerant adaptable to cool Moist soils Ruggeri 140 – Extremely vigorous drought and lime tolerant stock In summary, Hoskins said ensure you know what the long term goal of your vineyard is – what are you aiming for with your vines? Have a good understanding of the soil composition and climatic conditions in the region. Will the conditions support your aims? Check out what those around you are planting. What works well in the area and what should be avoided? And ensure that the clone you choose along with the rootstock will be able to fufill your aims. ■ tessa.nicholson@me.com