Planting Port

Preparing to receive Touriga National vines later this week. 

Vine row that was treated with Forfeit 280 on March 17th.. The active ingredient in Forfeit 280 is glufosinate. It is a contact herbicide, and one can see it is beginning to have an affect on the weeds in the vine row, as they are wilting and turning brown. 

Take a close look...some small weeds towards the left side of the photo are green and growing despite the application of Forfeit 280 as seen in the photo above. This portion of the  vine row was hoed the day before the application of the herbicide. Because the weeds were cut off below the soil surface the plants' green tissue did not come in contact with the herbicide. Consequently, these "protected" weeds (or more exactly their roots) are giving rise to new growth...growing back quite vigorously. One should allow the weeds to die once the herbicide has been applied. Notice the wilting weed in the upper part of the photo.

Carl (forefront) and Jose (rear) dig and prepare planting holes in anticipation of planting some Touriga Nacional vines at  at the NMSU Los Lunas ASC experimental vineyard.

According to Wikepedia   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touriga_Nacional

Touriga Nacional is a variety of red wine grape, considered by many to be Portugal's finest. Despite the low yields from its small grapes, it plays a big part in the blends used for ports, and is increasingly being used for table wine in the Douro and Dão. Touriga Nacional provides structure and body to wine, with high tannins and concentrated flavors of black fruit. Jancis Robinson has compared its relationship with Touriga Francesa to the partnership between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the former providing structure, the latter filling out the bouquet.  

Always good to see an earthworm...when you are digging a hole. Not sure what role they play in terroir