Identify Old Growth and Buds

What happens here

Examine the fruiting spurs on the cordon. Old growth typically has darker, rougher bark, while new growth tends to be lighter brown and smoother. The fruit will grow on the new growth from the buds. Identify the small, swollen nodes or 'buds' along the fruiting spurs. These buds are crucial as they contain the potential for new shoots and future fruit clusters. The video demonstrates that old fruiting spurs, if left unpruned, can become a dense, unproductive 'mess'.

Goal: Distinguish between old and new growth on the vine, as only new growth will produce fruit. Locate the buds on the fruiting spurs that will develop into fruit-bearing shoots.