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 and low vigour). 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. Start with a magnesium programme to control berry stem necrosis if necessary. 10 mm berry diameter: Apply 7.5–20 ppm gibberellic acid for berry enlargement. The higher dose is for the Orange River. When gibberellic acid is used at a concentration greater than 10 ppm, the bunches can be sprayed or dipped. Be careful to avoid overly large berries that colour poorly. Véraison to harvest ±5% colour: Apply 40 ml ethephon per 100 litres of water. Repeat after three days in warm areas. Open a gap of approximately 30 cm at the top of the canopy. Trim bunches if necessary. Remove bunches on weak shoots. ± 70% colour: 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. Use a MAM sheet.

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 75