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 (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. 3 cm bunch length: Apply kelp products or 1 ppm gibberellic acid plus 1 ppm CPPU (cytokinin) for bunch elongation. 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. It may be necessary to apply low concentrations (1.0%) of low-biuret urea from 20 cm shoot length until before flowering to improve vigour. 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 At 20%-30% flowering: Apply low concentrations (1.0%) of low-biuret urea. This can be repeated at 70%–80% flowering. Full bloom: Thin with 1–1.5 ppm gibberellic acid plus low concentrations (1.0%) of low-biuret urea. Repeat after three days. This cultivar can flower under the calyptra. Ensure that spray applications are performed in time. Set to véraison 5 mm berry diameter: Remove leaves around bunches after set. Shorten bunches to 75–85 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 3 ppm gibberellic acid for berry enlargement. Select bunches after setting and avoid handling bunches with a berry diameter of 12 mm or more to prevent sunburn. Start with a magnesium programme to control berry stem necrosis if necessary. Véraison to harvest ± 20% of berries soft: Open a gap of approximately 30 cm at the top of the canopy. Avoid direct sunlight on bunches. Colour improvement: Apply 40 ml ethephon per 100 litres of water in the Western Cape. Apply 50 ml ethephon per 100 litres of water in the Orange River. Apply an additional 30–40 ml ethephon per 100 litres of water three days later. Remove bunches on weak shoots. Harvest to packing Ideal sugar levels at harvest are 17–18 °Brix.

Handle bunches carefully. Use paper on the grapes. Use perforated bags and a MAM sheet. Don’t handle turgid grapes on cold mornings after rain or irrigation.

SATI GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF TABLE GRAPES IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR EXPORT 71