Grapevine Recovery After a Frost Event

Frost damage is a gut-wrenching sight in any vineyard — blackened shoots, wilted leaves, and the sense that weeks of growth have been lost overnight. But vines are resilient, and with careful post-frost management, recovery is possible.

1. Assess the Damage

Wait 3–5 days before making major decisions. This gives time for the full extent of damage to appear — some shoots may look burnt but will push new secondary buds. Mark the worst-hit blocks for closer monitoring over the next fortnight.

2. Hold Off on Pruning

It’s tempting to clean up immediately, but early cuts can stimulate more tender regrowth that’s vulnerable to a second frost. Let the vines declare what’s alive first. Once regrowth stabilises, light tipping of dead shoots can tidy the canopy and encourage balanced new shoots.

3. Protect What’s Left

Frost-damaged tissue is highly susceptible to disease. Sulphur fungicides should be used sparingly — high rates can stress recovering vines further and burn new tender growth. Instead:

• Use low-rate protectants only where powdery mildew risk is high.

• Avoid copper and sulphur in the first 10–14 days after frost if new shoots are emerging.

• Consider biological or softer protectants as the canopy redevelops.

4. Support Recovery with Foliar Sprays

Frost-hit vines benefit from targeted nutrition and metabolic support:

• Kelp extracts and seaweed products: promote cytokinin activity, root recovery, and new shoot growth.

• Amino acid or protein hydrolysate foliar feeds: help rebuild cell structure and improve stress tolerance.

• Balanced micronutrients: include zinc, manganese, and boron at low rates to aid new leaf formation.

• Avoid heavy nitrogen early — it can cause overly soft regrowth prone to further stress.

Apply foliar sprays early in the morning or late in the day to avoid leaf burn and maximise uptake.

5. Manage Soil Moisture and Canopy

Keep soils moist but not saturated — active roots help vines bounce back. Once secondary shoots establish, manage canopy density carefully to balance yield potential with the reduced carbohydrate reserves in the vine.

6. Reset Expectations

Yields will likely be lower, and ripening may be uneven. Focus the season on vine recovery rather than production — strong wood this year sets up better fruit next year.

Bottom line:

After frost, the goal is to stabilise the vine, prevent secondary stress, and encourage steady regrowth. Go gentle with fungicides, feed wisely with kelp-based foliar's and trace nutrients, and let the vines’ natural resilience do the rest.