Table grape producers are preparing for the next 2019 wine campaign. Although the vines have been affected by rain and hail, the plants, except for a few severely affected exceptions, continued their vegetative process.
The president of ARPTRA (the Apulian Regional Association of Agricultural Researchers and Technicians) Vittorio Filì: "The climate in recent months has caused a 10-day delay in flowering on most varieties (including Italian grapes). The Italian spring weather was initially characterized by drought in the northern regions, while in the south abundant rainfall have been recorded, even of considerable intensity. Would it happen every year, this type of rainfall would allow us to fill the reservoirs throughout the summer season.
"The night-time temperatures of this unique spring are still below the seasonal average. Having 9-11°C at the end of May at night means that the optimal growth of the plant is slowed down. It is worth remembering that, even if the temperatures are low, they are not such as to damage the crop; rather, they slow down its vegetative state. The regions that find themselves facing a delay in the development of the vines, due to an extension of low temperatures, are Puglia, Basilicata and Calabria".
"This delay leads to a gradual flowering (not really desired for this reference, if we consider the cost of thinning the bunches). If the real heat arrives, the delay will not be recovered despite the presence of thermoplastic film on the plants. Therefore, the early grapes of the 2019 harvest could arrive on the market in the last ten days of July. A slight delay that will inevitably cause economic damage to the sector. Despite all this, the producers are confident because this expected delay will not cause any kind of qualitative damage.
Contacts:
A.R.P.T.R.A.
c/o Europe Direct Puglia
Via G. Suppa, 9
70121 – Bari – Italy
Email: arptra.puglia@libero.it
Web: arptra.it