In many vineyards, pruning is scheduled around labour and logistics rather than vine physiology. However, the period between harvest and natural leaf fall is critical for carbohydrate accumulation, nutrient retranslocation, and dormancy progression. Pruning before full senescence can reduce reserve recovery and weaken vine performance the following season. Post-harvest canopies remain physiologically active long after fruit removal. During this phase, the vine reallocates car

Post-harvest is not a shutdown phase — it is a reserve accumulation phase. Once fruit is removed, the vine reallocates photosynthate and nutrients into trunks, cordons, and roots. These reserves determine spring vigour, bud fertility, early shoot growth, and resilience under stress.

Commit to annual soil testing. Track the numbers. Manage trends early. Protect structure, nutrient efficiency, and vine longevity before constraints develop.

Flowering is one of the most influential stages in a grapevine’s annual cycle—yet it’s often the most overlooked when it comes to nutrition. For growers aiming to improve fruit set, reduce variability, and set the vine up for a balanced season, what happens nutritionally in the few weeks around bloom can determine the success of the entire vintage. Here’s why nutrition at flowering matters, what can go wrong, and how foliar sprays between flowering and veraison provide a reli