NMSU to host grapevine pruning workshop March 14 in Abiquiu

NMSU to host grapevine pruning workshop March 14 in Abiquiu
DATE: 02/25/2019
WRITER: Jane Moorman, 505-249-0527, jmoorman@nmsu.edu
CONTACT: Donald Martinez, 505-685-4523, donmart@nmsu.edu
ABIQUIU – Are your grape vines out of control and need to be pruned?

New Mexico State University’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences can help you learn how to prune the plants so they will produce bountiful fruit.

A free hands-on pruning workshop will be hosted by the Rio Arriba County Cooperative Extension Service office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 14. NMSU Extension viticulturist Gill Giese will lead the workshop.

“We are excited to team up with Dr. Giese to offer this workshop,” said Donald Martinez, NMSU’s Rio Arriba County agricultural agent. “We have quite a few growers in the area who have an interest in corrective pruning their backyard grape vines.”

The workshop will begin at the county Extension office at State Road 554 in Abiquiu for a PowerPoint presentation.

“After the presentation on the best time to propagate and prune, and general vineyard maintenance, we will go to the Sam Jewel Farm and actually get hands-on experience pruning,” Martinez said.

The workshop is limited to 20 participants. Snacks will be provided. Participants are asked to bring a sack lunch, pruners, gloves and sun protection.