LAKE COUNTY – All around vineyards in Lake County, winegrape growers are checking weather reports, irrigating grapes, and watching for insect and disease problems.

Growers are finishing the heavy work of late spring/early summer, awaiting veraison (French term used for when grapes soften and mature) which should begin in one or two weeks for some of the early varieties, said Walt Lyon, winegrape grower and one of the first board members when the Lake County Winegrape Commission was formed in 1992.

He owns Lyon Vineyards in Kelseyville and farms another vineyard with his son Jeff who is on the current commission board of directors.

At this time of year mildew is a main concern for growers, although Lake County does not typically have a huge mildew problem, he said.

With warm weather, the mildew possibility goes down, said Lyon. If cool temperatures are present for any length of time, growers may have to dust or spray to prevent mildew. Many of the winegrape diseases must be battled via preventative measures.

Growers are watching weather reports daily and have access to forecasts on the Lake County Winegrape Commission’s Web site. Having been among the first farmers to plant new vineyards in 1967, Lyon said he continues to learn about winegrape production and finds that new technology is helping growers with their tasks.

Watching for leafhoppers and mites is high on the to-do list for winegrape farmers this time of year. Mites like excessive heat and can do some damage to vineyards. There are certain predatory mites that can be introduced to the grape vines to destroy the damaging leafhoppers, Lyon added.

In addition, growers may be mowing cover crops and doing some leaf removal from their vines. Removing some leaves to expose a little bit of sunshine is done by hand to help production, Lyon said. In the meantime, there is not much cultivation now, but irrigation is necessary.

“We give them enough (water) to feel good and bring the grapes up to harvest time,” which can be as soon as late August for some varieties, Lyon said. “We want to make sure the vines don’t cook.”

“In the Vineyard” is a new monthly submission from the Lake County Winegrape Commission. For information about Lake County’s winegrape industry and the commission, visit the commission’s Web site, www.lakecountywinegrape.org .