May brings vine flowers. Why is it important?
LDV has made it through budbreak without a late spring frost. Early to mid-May the vineyard begins to flower. Each bud will bloom and eventually become a grape. Clusters of buds will pollinate into grape clusters. Here are some facts about this stage in the vines’ annual evolution.
- Grape vines are hermaphroditic meaning they possess both male and female parts allowing grape flowers to transform into berries without a pollinator like bees.
- Flowers will drop off and pinhead size small green berries will remain and grow.
- After flowering, harvest will begin in about 3 to 4 months.
- At this point, we estimate the percentage of each grape cluster that will grow into fruit.