Hi everyone,

Just got my grapes from double A vineyards for the first time and I have to say I'm impressed with the quality. Roots were almost three feet long! Hopefully they break bud this spring. I am trying these blue vine shelters. Has anyone had any luck with them? Also I wonder if they would work on training figs into a tree shape? Anyway, I thought I would share a pic. =) 

 

My grapes I planted last year took awhile but grew nicely This year after pruning in late winter I'm expecting to get at least a few bunches of grapes

Double A has some good growing and pruning literature on their website.

Those shelters are great. Running the stake between the two pieces of plastic makes the tube really secure. 

The shelters are great, I used them last year on muscadine vines and they really pushed the growth.

I've used a variation of the idea on one of my figs. I triangle of plastic "cardboard" that fits around the trunk. It seemed to really help push some growth on a Hardy Chicago that was not doing so well.

Very cool! Thanks for the feedback. I am new to this method but I am a sucker for trying new things. Haha. Hopefully I can share the same success.Perhaps I may need to adjust the stake to go through the sleeve instead of on the outside. It sounds like a good idea.

I had the stakes inside both parts at first but eventually figured it out ; )

Please explain just what these tubes are supposed to do for the trees/vines.... Protection?  Growth enhancement?

@Gene Daniels...A triangle of plastic "cardboard"....was this triangle, store bought, or did you make it yourself?  Can these tubes be homemade?

These tubes sound interesting, especially since all my fig trees are trained into single-stem standard, tree forms.  So using these tubes will be easy.  Now I need to know why to use them.


Thanks,
Frank

Hi Frank,

The blue light is supposed to help the plants get the light they need. Whether that is true or not I don't know...what I do know is that these for sure will give protection against rabbits that are always pruning in wrong places, herbicide drift, harsh wind, etc. It will also provide a micro climate and promote vertical growth. There may be other advantages but assuming these grow inside the tube they should shoot straight up!


Before I post this link please know I am in no way affiliated with this company and I have not yet tried these to prove effectiveness but I am optimistic. 

More info:
https://www.doubleavineyards.com/c-3-buy-books-accessories.aspx#Filter=[EntityIDs=@(56)@*ava=0]

I met the guy that "invented" those shelters maybe 8-10 years ago (found out from his son a few years later he died in his sleep).  He was into various projects and had been reclaiming silver from x-ray films and his original shelters were somewhat a discovery made with some leftover x-ray film after the silver had been removed.  He just had it in his back yard and said the grass within the shelter grew much faster.  He said the benefits were because of the blue light and reduced wind.  I don't remember the specifics exactly, but he said something like 8 mph winds and greater decrease photosynthesis as a result of leaves taking action to decrease moisture loss (or something like that).

Grape vines don't trend to branch out at the lower heights but I'm not sure how figs would do with these shelters.

Depends where you live on the success of those grow tubes.  I had to remove mine when we were in the low desert because they were frying the foliage.  Too hot inside!  They really protect young vines from rabbits and critters that love fresh young leaves.  As far as using them for figs to get a trunk, a fig will shoot outside the tube if it wishes.  To get a trunk on a fig, rub off side growth and suckers, and do not pinch the tip until it reaches the height you want for the lowest branches.  A sturdy stake is far better than a tube, but the tube will protect a young tree from rabbits or voles.

Suzi

Some sort of tree shelter is a requirement here because of the deer. They just love nice straight trunks to rub the felt off their antlers.