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

Actions by phenological stage

Dormancy Pruning: This cultivar has long internodes.

Half-long bearers (8 buds) with 12–15 buds per m 2 . Also apply hydrogen cyanamide in the Western Cape.

Improving bud break: Early applications of hydrogen cyanamide are not recommended. Apply hydrogen cyanamide before bud break to improve bud break. Use according to the product registration. Bud break to flowering 2 cm shoot length: Start with the powdery mildew programme. This cultivar is sensitive to bud mites, downy mildew, and dead arm disease (phomopsis). Control proactively during the growing season. 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, but be conservative. 20 cm shoot length: Thin shoots. Remove shoots without bunches. Retain one bunch per shoot. 80–110 cm shoot length: Optimal shoot length at flowering. Flowering to set Thins well naturally. Chemical thinning is not recommended. It may be necessary to improve set by tipping bunches if conditions are very warm and vines are very vigorous during flowering. 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 55 000 bunches per hectare. Apply nitrogen according to vigour. 6-8 mm berry diameter: Apply 7.5 ppm gibberellic acid for berry enlargement in the Western Cape. Repeat after three days. Apply 15 ppm gibberellic acid for berry enlargement in the Orange River. Repeat after three days. Sensitive to sunburn and heat damage. Avoid direct sunlight on bunches and handling bunches before véraison. Thin manually before 12 mm berry diameter or after véraison. Start with a magnesium programme to control berry stem necrosis if necessary. Véraison to harvest ± 20% of berries soft: There is no risk of sunburn after véraison. Open a gap of approximately 30 cm at the apex of the canopy and remove leaves to promote more uniform colour and sugar development. This cultivar colours readily in cooler climates. Ethephon can be applied at a lower dose in the Western Cape. A higher dose will be needed in the Northern Cape and Limpopo. Remove bunches on weak shoots. Harvest to packing Ideal sugar levels at harvest are 19–21 °Brix. Handle bunches carefully. Harvesting on cold mornings in the Western Cape can cause cracks around the stem attachment. Therefore, handle and pre-cool with care when packing under these conditions.

SATI GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF TABLE GRAPES IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR EXPORT 65