Domaine de Bannières

Perhaps to be able to plow, certain vines will have to be topped,(to cut down), but just what is necessary to let pass the tractor... There is no question to cut down every 15 days; a time ago
for the growth, to respect at the beginning but not to stimulate permanently; then with the veraison, a time for fructification, favoured in particular by stop foliation.
On our premises, no stripping, the stocks have enough sun like that; an important
foliage helps to maintain moisture at the foot of the stocks and allows an abundant photosynthesis which will ensure a better fructification.
That to say about these stocks topped to excess which raise new buds at the time of the grape harvest... or of these bunches which have to be nourished only both or three sheets of their vine shoot...!
That should not be seen under the sun of Languedoc. Alas, yes !

This year, there was little pressure on the level mildew; however, we made seven treatments with copper hydroxide + sulphur mouillable + dampener (Kocide 35, Microthiol disperss and Escapade).
More one sulphuring powders on flowering (sulphur triturated Coq).
The treatment against gilded flavescence is carried out with roténone + dampener (Rotenobiol + Escapade), very effective in 7 to 10 days, al though one says some (as much as one can judge some by its action on "cicadelle des grillures")...

Following the new European regulation relating to use of copper in organic farming, we were brought to reduce the copper amounts because, if we had applied the amounts approved by the manufacturers of plant health products, we could have carried out only three treatments...
After having taken knowledge of the tests of' ITAB (Technical Institute Biological Agriculture), we decided to treat only with 500 G of copper métal/ha...
and that went very well since, as the various photographs presented testify some, protection was very effective.
We saw appearing the first tasks of mildew only at the end of July, although very rare, on entrecoeurs, in wet places, because we spaced the treatments and that pulverization was thwarted by a cross-wind and an excessive vegetation.

What counts, is not only the amount of copper, which can be reduced, but especially the frequency of the treatments and their positioning according to the pressure of the disease, of the growth of the vine shoots or the announced weather risks.

That imposes: a constant monitoring of the vineyard, a taking into account of the forecasts weather, thus a permanent availability to make the treatments when necessary:
* before flowering to protect the flower, promise of harvest,
* during flowering for an application of triturated sulphur, that supports fecundation,
* at the nouaison to ensure protection after the fall of the floral caps,
* at the closing of the bunch,
* at the beginning of ripening,
etc...

Without forgetting the parasitic monitoring and there, there is only the magnifying glass to locate the acarina, the cicadelles ones and other worms of the bunch to the lower face of the sheets. Of course, disbudding (épamprage) essential should not be forgotten to limit the parasitic aggressions which come from the ground or the foot of the stock and to remove the greedy ones. In the same way, as soon as the vine shoots are sufficiently long, it is necessary to train the vines equipped with elevating wire; that
- allows important foliage for type of vines with port falling down by avoiding topping,
- airs thus the fruit-bearing zone, which will avoid the rot the rainy years,
- makes the grape accessible to the pesticides (copper, sulphur, vegetable preparations...), and
- gets a salutary shade at the foot of the stock.

Without forgetting the ploughings, essential:
- to decompress the ground, which allows the rain to infiltrate,
- to air the surface zone where are all micro organizations which feed the plant: is the épigée fauna, which functions in aerobe,
- not to let itself invade by the bad grasses, competing for the vine and which can give a taste unpleasant to the wine (aristoloche, wild carrot...).
The ploughing allows the microbial life of the grounds, brings green manure and support humus.
While cutting the surface roots between the rows, the ploughing obliges the stock to draw its resources more deeply, thus reinforcing the expression of the soil. Moreover, that keeps a flexible ground to reduce the hydrous stress of summer (a hoeing is worth two waterings, said...).

For treatments, it is necessary, in the course of countryside, to raise the tubes of the pulverizer, to control the quality of pulverization and to specify the passages of the apparatus, in order to alternate the rows and the direction of passage: thus one will avoid " holes " and the protection of the stocks will be better.

Conclusion: by holding account of the last treatment of the"cabernet" which have not had the first treatment because of late débourrement
(cf the page "Grape harvest "), we applied
3.5 kg and 3.85 kg of copper metal per hectare.
The European regulation currently authorizes
8 kg/ha !...