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

Actions by phenological stage

Dormancy Pruning: Canes (10–12 buds) with 25 buds per m 2 . Use laterals with 1–2 buds (spurs) on the main bearers (canes). 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 the vigour, but be cautious of excessive vigour. 20 cm shoot length: Thin shoots. Remove weak shoots and shoots without bunches. Keep all bunches. 80–110 cm shoot length: Optimal shoot length at flowering. Flowering to set 90% in set: Apply 1–1.5 ppm gibberellic acid to abort shot berries. Use the higher dose under challenging conditions (cold weather and poor vigour). Set to véraison 50% of berries with 5–8 mm diameter: Remove leaves around bunches. Girdle for berry enlargement. Girdling also positively affects fertility in the following season. Berry enlargement with gibberellic acid is not recommended because it can be detrimental to colour development and fertility. Shorten bunches to 90–110 berries per bunch. Leave 52 000 bunches per hectare. 10 mm berry diameter: If girdling is not possible, apply 7.5–10 ppm gibberellic acid for berry enlargement. Use an electrostatic spray applicator or dip bunches. The higher dose is for the Orange River. Apply nitrogen according to vigour. Start with a magnesium programme to control berry stem necrosis if necessary. Véraison to harvest ±5% colour: Apply 40–50 ml ethephon per 100 litres of water. Use the higher dose in the Orange River. ± 20% of berries soft: Prune the apex of the trellis to open a gap of approximately 30 cm. Avoid direct sunlight on bunches. ± 75% of berries soft: Remove bunches on vines with poor colour compared with other vines. Harvest to packing Sensitive to hairline cracks: Don’t handle turgid grapes on cold mornings after rain or irrigation.

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 69