Plantra Grow Tubes accelerate growth of newly planted grapevines and reduce total vineyard establishment costs

Steffie Littlefield of Potosi, MO sent this great sequence of photos documenting her 2008 vineyard establishment project. All of these photos were taken during the 2008 growing season – in other words, these vines are “first leaf.” This first photo shows terrific site preparation, and the Plantra Grow Tubes placed next to each vine and ready to be installed.

The grow tube was placed behind the dormant grapevine to illustrate the size of the vine at planting time… about 6 inches tall. After the photo was taken the grow tube was placed over the vine and fastened to the stake.

Photo taken a couple weeks later, as the grapevine is breaking bud and starting to grow. The peach/pink color of Plantra Grow Tubes optimizes Red Light – the wavelength range most responsible for fueling photosynthesis & biomass growth – while minimizing the wavelength ranges that simply heat the tube without promoting growth, or which promote stem elongation but not root development or stem thickness.

The vine continues to grow and thrive in the grow tube. Plantra Grow Tubes dramatically reduce moisture stress; instead of closing stomates and shutting down photosynthesis to conserve moisture, the vines are growing more actively more of the time. They are also safe from animal depredation and both mechanical & chemical weed control practices.

A great way to spend a sunny summer day! It’s summer and the vines have not only emerged from the 2.5ft Plantra Grow Tubes, many are more than 6ft tall!
Plantra Grow Tubes are real time-savers for both large scale and “weekend” growers: Notice that the vines don’t need to be trained to the stake until after they emerge from the tubes – saving 2 or 3 passes through the field.

Another shot taken the same day… vines have emerged from the tubes and are ready to be trained to the cordon wire. Plantra Grow Tubes… 1) Typically take 1 year off the time until first harvest 2) Accelerate healthy, balanced growth with thick stems and healthy roots – you get bigger early yields without stressing the vines 3) Protect from animal damage 4) Make weed control fast & easy, while protecting vines from herbicides and mechanical cultivation 5) “Automatically” train vines up the stake, saving 2-3 very labor-intensive passes through the field.