Designation for the type of formation of the one-year-old shoots. Depending on the length of the shoots or the eyes (buds) left on them during pruning, there are different names. A very short shoot is called a cone (1 to 3 eyes), a medium-length shoot is called an elongated shoot (4 to 7 eyes) and a very long shoot is called a rod (8 to 15 eyes). The new, fruit-bearing shoots (summer shoots) develop from the eyes. However, there is no uniform standardisation in this respect; the number of eyes often varies somewhat locally. The term arch is also used for both the extensor and the cane. And "Strecker" is a term for the medium-length shoot and also for the shape of the flat arch. The left shoots are formed and fixed with the wire frame support (bending). The individual shapes are typical for different training systems. Today, the flat or half arch is mostly used.
Flat arch (stretcher)
The shoot is placed on or wrapped around the wire. In the double flat bow (double stretcher), one shoot is guided to the right and one to the left
Half arch
The shoot is formed into a semicircle over two bending wires 15 to 20 cm apart and fixed to the lower wire. Depending on the vigour of the growth, there are one or two half arches or a double arch.
Pendulum arch
This is a half arch with very wide bending wire distances of over 30 cm. The sloping part of the arch is usually bent down vertically, which resembles a pendulum. In certain forms of training, the long shoot is also left hanging freely. As the shoot load increases, the entire arch "swings" downwards.
Full arch (round arch)
This form is used for cane training as well as for Moselle pole training. A long shoot (also known as a Bügling) is strongly bent and the end is attached to the cane. With two shoots this results in a heart shape (therefore also heart cut). A mixed form with half and whole bows is or was one of the variants of high culture, especially in the Eastern Bloc countries.
Cutting and stitching - video
In a video (click to view) from the DWI, the cutting and subsequent stitching (fastening) of a half-sheet to the bending wire using semi-automatic binding pliers is clearly explained. See also lists of relevant keywords at vine training (systems) and vineyard maintenance (activities).
Graphics 1-3: By Bauer Karl - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Graphic 4: By Bauer Karl - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Video cutting and stitching: German Wine Institute
