Guidelines for the preparation of table grapes in SA for export 2025/2026_ND

Actions by phenological stage

Dormancy Pruning: Spurs (2 buds) with 8–10 buds per m 2 . Or half-long bearers (6–8 buds) with 12–15 buds per m 2 .

Improving bud break: Apply hydrogen cyanamide before bud break to advance the harvest date or improve bud break. Use according to the product registration. Bud break to flowering 2 cm shoot length: Start with the powdery mildew programme. 10–15 cm shoot length: Top dominant shoots so that shoots with bunches will all be more or less the same length at flowering. Apply nitrogen according to vigour. 20 cm shoot length: Thin shoots. Remove weak shoots and shoots without bunches. Keep one bunch per shoot. 80–110 cm shoot length: Optimal shoot length at flowering. Flowering to set In set (2–3 mm berry diameter): Apply 1–2 ppm gibberellic acid to abort shot berries. Repeat after 2–3 days. Use the higher dose under challenging conditions (cold temperatures). Set to véraison 5 mm berry diameter: Remove leaves around bunches. Shorten bunches to 80–90 berries per bunch. Leave one bunch per shoot with a minimum diameter of 10 mm. Leave 54 000–55 000 bunches per hectare. Apply nitrogen according to vigour. 10–12 mm berry diameter: Apply 10–20 ppm gibberellic acid for berry enlargement. Use the higher dose for warm conditions. When gibberellic acid is used at a concentration greater than 10 ppm, the bunches can be sprayed or dipped. Start with a magnesium programme to control berry stem necrosis if necessary. Véraison to harvest ± 20% of berries soft: Prune the apex of the trellis to open a gap of approximately 30 cm. Trim bunches if necessary. Late handling of bunches can lead to surface browning. Remove bunches on weak shoots. Bunches that hang too long to achieve optimal sugar levels can develop internal browning. Harvest to packing

Sensitive to surface browning: Handle bunches carefully. Sensitive to SO 2 -damage: Use paper on the grapes. Use 4–5 mm perforated bags and a MAM sheet.

SATI GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF TABLE GRAPES IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR EXPORT 39