Training methods for grapes vines

1. Head system

• During early years, the vines require support
• After 4-5 years, the stem becomes sturdy enough to stand at its own strength
• The plants are allowed to grow to a height of 75 to 90 cm

• At the terminal portion of shoot, 5 to 6 side branches are allowed to grow
• This system is suitable for less vigorous cultivar and is very simple and inexpensive
• This is practised in Beauty Seedless, Perlette, Delight and Gold

Fig : Head system

2. Kniffin System

• This is also known as 4-cane system • In this system, the two rows of wires are stretched at a height of 1.05 and 1.65 metres from ground level with the help of iron or concrete poles
• The vines are cut at a height of 1.65 metres from the ground level
• Along with both the lines of wire, 2 branches of the vines are trained parallel to the ground
• Thus the vines develop 4 arms
• This system is suitable for medium vigorous cultivar
• This is practised in Beauty Seedless, Early Muscat, Banqui-Abyad, Bhokri and Delight etc.

Fig : Kniffin system

3. Telephone system/Overhead trellis system

• This system is also known as 6-cane system
• In this system, poles are erected at a distance of 3.6 to 4.8 meters
• At the terminal end of pole, there is 1.2 m long arm
• The arm is drilled with 6 holes

• Through these holes, 6 wires are stretched from one pole to another and vines are trained over these wires
• The vines are allowed to grow to a height of 1.5 m to 1.6 m and then trained along with the wire
• This system is suitable for moderately vigorous cultivar having more apical dominance

Fig : telephone /Overhead trellis system

4. Bower system

• This system is well suited for vigorous cultivar
• The vines are trained on criss-cross network of wires
• To create network of wires, poles are fixed at a distance of 4.5 to 6.0 metres
• The poles are 2.1 to 2.4 metres high
• Angle iron are fixed through poles to develop a roof like structure
• Through the holes, wires are stretched length and width wise to have a criss-cross network of wires
• Then it is pinched off to facilitate production of side shoots
• Two vigorous shoots in opposite direction are selected at the wire level for training as primary arms
• On each primary arm, three laterals on either side are selected at 60 cm distance to develop as secondary arms
• Each secondary arm is allowed to develop 8-10 tertiary branches

Fig : Bower system