Grape cluster thinning berry thinning dipping export bunch shaping Nashik angoor
How do I thin clusters and berries in table grapes (angoor) for export quality?
SSantosh Pawar7mo ago · 273 views
5 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓7mo ago
Thinning controls bunch number, shape, and berry spacing so you get even, well-coloured export bunches instead of crowded compact clusters that rot. First limit the number of bunches per vine to match the vine's capacity, then shorten and shape each bunch and remove inside and crowded berries so air and light reach all berries. Combine this with the recommended gibberellic acid and dipping schedule for berry sizing, but follow label rates and export residue limits strictly. Over-cropping gives small soft berries and poor price, while balanced thinning gives uniform large berries that grade well. For your variety and target market, confirm the bunch-per-vine load and the GA schedule with your KVK or grape research station.
SSantosh Pawar7mo ago
On our export plot we do the bunch shaping before bloom by tipping the lower portion of the bunch so it does not become a long crowded tail. Doing it early saves a lot of fiddly berry thinning later. Crowded berries are where the rot and thrips start, so airflow inside the bunch is everything.
DDattatray Khaire7mo ago
We hire skilled women for berry thinning with small curved scissors because rough hands bruise the remaining berries and the marks show at the pack-house. Thin to a count the exporter asks for, do not just eyeball it. The first year we over-thinned and lost weight, so now we follow the buyer's berries-per-bunch target.
GGanpat Wagh7mo ago
A point on the dipping schedule for sizing in our Niphad plot: time the GA dips to the right berry stage and use the rates from the research station, because over-dipping gives big but hollow watery berries that do not travel. Keep every dip dated in the spray diary since the export residue audit checks it. Balanced thinning plus correct dipping is what gives the firm crunchy berry buyers want.
VVaishali Pawar7mo ago
We keep a tally sheet per row of how many bunches we leave per vine, because once labour gets going it is easy to overload a strong vine and starve a weak one. Matching the load to each vine's strength gave us far more even berry size across the plot. The exporter's grade improved the season we got strict about counting.