Extreme heat scorched the vineyards

The air temperatures reaching 45 degrees in Manisa, where the world-famous seedless Sultana grapes are grown, have also had a negative impact on the vineyards. While sunburns were detected in some vineyards, Aydoğan Okur, the President of Saruhanlı Chamber of Agriculture, warned farmers to stay away from leaf removal and emphasized that activities such as irrigation and inter-row cultivation should be done at night.
Above-normal temperatures in Manisa are adversely affecting both life and agriculture. Due to the increasing temperatures, weed, stubble, and forest fires have doubled compared to June of last year in Manisa, where the air temperatures reach 45 degrees, negatively affecting agriculture. In Manisa, where the world-famous seedless Sultana grapes are cultivated, drying and sunburns are starting to be seen in grape vineyards due to the increasing temperatures. Warning against sunburns and drying that are expected to negatively impact the yield, Aydoğan Okur, the President of Saruhanlı Chamber of Agriculture, stated that irrigation and cultivation activities in the vineyards should be done during the night.
“Activities done during the day further increase the warming of the soil”
Stressing that activities carried out during the day cause the soil to warm up, Aydoğan Okur, the President of Saruhanlı Chamber of Agriculture, said, “As is known, the increase in global temperatures has also started to manifest itself in our country. Since the vine is a delicate plant, it starts to dry from the leaves initially and then the fruit gets sunburned. This damages the grape crop. We want our farmers to do their work, irrigation, effort, hoeing, and hoeing late at night as much as possible. Activities done during the day further increase the warming of the soil. Since it gives off steam to the vineyards, it causes problems. We want our farmers to do their work at night.”
“When grapes are exposed, temperatures up to 45 degrees affect the grapes”
Pointing out that leaf removal is done at certain times in the vineyards, but farmers should avoid this process this year, Okur said, “Leaf removal should definitely not be done in the vineyards. When grapes are exposed, temperatures up to 45 degrees affect the grapes. It causes drying and loss of product in grapes. Our farmers should definitely not remove leaves. Leave these leaves on the vine. Also, try not to do what we call tip pruning. In the past, when it was hot during the day, it used to be a bit cooler at night. But now that’s gone. When it is hot at night and during the day, the plant gets stressed. Sunburns occur. This will cause product loss. May God help us, this year seems to be a challenging season.”
During this period of the year, more irrigation and leaf removal activities are planned for Manisa’s seedless Sultana grape vineyards, with the harvest season aimed to start on August 15th.