DECEMBER

1. Fertiliser

• Growing conditions have been ideal with hot and humid conditions. Continue to fertilise with nitrogen based mix at least monthly to continue the rapid vegetative growth.

2. Slug Control

• Slugs can still do damage into december. A grass free area around the stump assists with slug control. 

3. Leader Training 

• The key task for December is bringing down the leaders onto the leader wire. Ideally the leader should be brought down in the first half of December and should, after cutting back to a cane diameter of approximately  ten millimetres (or the last leaf  the same size as your hand) the ends of the leaders should then be 0.5 metres apart. Stronger growth can be brought down earlier to achieve this. At some point you will have to make the decision about the weaker canes - it is probably better to bring them down in December and cut them back even if that leaves a gap between leaders that to let them continue to grow to the correct length, if they are not brought down in December the resulting side cane growth will not be sufficient to cover the canopy. Aim to have all leaders down by 20th December.

• Bringing down the leaders is a two person job to avoid pressure on the graft union. One person should hold the cane securely below the leader wire while the other brings the leader down and wraps it around the wire.
• Strong secondary growths that may have already arisen should be stubbed back to prevent them becoming dominant and to provide extra stimulation from the other growth points.
• Some growers remove with a sharp knife, the leaf stems from the vertical part of the leader after tying down, to avoid growth arising from the wrong place - note only do this after the cane is securely in place and only when there are two leaders, otherwise you may need one of those growth points to give extra cane.
• Do not wrap the cane too tightly around the leader wire - one fairly loose wrap approximately every metre of cane is ideal. Use a tapener to provide extra security.

4. Training of side canes

• As side canes arise, use a tapener to secure them to training strings and train each one clockwise up a single string. These will need attention at least weekly. Use a ladder and follow the canes up the string until you can no longer reach. canes will jump across strings and at some point this is unavoidable but the longer you can keep them on their own string, the better. Once the side canes have started up the leader it's all about maximising vegetative growth through water, heat, shelter and fertilizer. Ideally canes will reach the top of the strings in February/March.