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 18–21 buds per m 2 . Apically dominant. It’s essential to protect the renewal zone and refrain from pruning canes too long. Also use hydrogen cyanamide in the Western Cape. 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. Strong vigour can negatively impact fertility. 50–60 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 Warm conditions and strong vigour may cause excessive shatter. Thinning is not recommended for warmer areas such as the Orange River. If temperatures are cooler during flowering in the Western Cape, 0.5–1 ppm gibberellic acid can be applied when 10%–20% of bunches are in set. Set to véraison 5 mm berry diameter: Remove leaves around bunches after set. 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. Berry enlargement when spraying with gibberellic acid can negatively affect fertility. Bunches can be dipped to protect fertility. Girdling has a positive effect on berry size. 8-10 mm berry diameter: Spray 5 ppm gibberellic acid or dip bunches in 3–5 ppm gibberellic acid for berry enlargement in the Western Cape. Spray 15 ppm gibberellic acid for berry enlargement in the Orange River. Add 0.25 ppm CPPU (cytokinin) to improve berry attachment. Véraison to harvest ± 20% colour: Open gap of approximately 30 cm at the top of the canopy. Colour improvement: This cultivar colours readily in cooler regions. Low doses of ethephon can be applied in the Western Cape. However, ethephon is necessary in the Northern Cape. ± 75% colour: Remove bunches on vines with poor colour. Harvest to packing Ideal sugar levels at harvest are 18 °Brix. This cultivar can be prone to loose berries, so handle bunches carefully during harvesting and packing. 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 85