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

Actions by phenological stage

Dormancy Pruning: Half-long bearers (8 buds) with 8–12 buds per m 2 (80 000–120 000 buds per hectare). Use the higher bud load for high-vigour conditions. Improving bud break: Prune so that bearers all have more or less the same diameter (9–11 mm). Canes that are too thin or too thick have uneven bud break. Bud break to flowering 20 cm shoot length: Thin shoots. Remove weak shoots and shoots without bunches. Aim for 18–20 shoots per metre. Keep one bunch per shoot. Aim for 20%–30% more bunches than planned. Flowering to set Full bloom: Thin with 1–2 ppm gibberellic acid. 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 9–11 mm. Leave 55 000 bunches per hectare. Aim for a good balance between vigour and crop load. Avoid excessive vigour. 6–8 mm berry diameter: Apply 5–10 ppm gibberellic acid for berry enlargement. Véraison to harvest Ethephon for colour improvement is unnecessary. ± 20% colour: Prune the apex of the trellis to open a gap of approximately 30 cm. Diffuse light under the trellis is important, but the berries mustn’t receive direct sunlight. Remove damaged berries and bunches. Control decay. Harvest to packing Maintain the cold chain to prevent condensation.

SATI GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF TABLE GRAPES IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR EXPORT 77