Journal / Field Notes | July 5, 2023
Roses at the ends of vineyard rows
In the mid-1800s horticulturalists started exchanging exotic plant species across the Atlantic. This included grapevines along with associated disease pathogens and invasive insects. It didn’t take long for powdery mildew to show up in French vineyards. One can only imagine the panic in seeing vines wither in the middle of summer.
Treating the vines with a coating of sulfur or copper would mitigate the damage. This treatment was expensive and time consuming, not to mention that continuous use was environmentally damaging.
Enter the rose bush. Roses were also susceptible to newly introduced strains of powdery mildew, however they showed symptoms earlier on. Roses were planted at the ends of the vineyard rows as an indicator plant (canary in the coal mine). They signaled just when to apply sulfur or copper, saving time and money.
With more advanced science and weather forecasting we no longer need the roses as indicators, but they are still traditionally planted in vineyards. And they are pretty. And for some of us they are a reminder that we are not the first generation to battle invasive species. And that history repeats itself.
Subscribe to Linden Updates for the latest vineyard and cellar information.
Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal/Field Notes: July 5, 2023