There are multiple ways to prune grapevines. Some recommend pruning down to leave only two buds per vine shoot, which will be where next year's growth will be. This method is great for wine grapes and encourage grapes for next year. Plenty of Youtube videos on it. However, Thompson Seedless do not respond well to this method. They will grow fantastic folliage, as you've seen, but will not produce much in the way of grapes. There is another method for pruning these. I believe it is called caning. Basically, from the trunk you count out the lateral runner (assuming you have it on a wire) and prune everything beyond the 3rd or 4th rising cane. You decide where based on the vigor of the rising cane. If the 3rd is vigorous, then it, if the 4th more so then it. If you end up messing up, you still have the 1st and 2nd to use. Once you have cut off the lateral, you then bend the rising cane down to the wire and tie it down to make a new lateral. Be gentle, and you may hear the wood crack a bit, but that should be ok. This is where the need for riser #1 and #2 may be necessary. Once you have it tied down, then prune the risers closer to the trunk as you would have the other method, leaving 2 buds. I couldn't find any videos on this, but if you search for grapevine pruning methods for Thompson grapes, you should find it. Apparently Thompson likes to put grapes on the vines from the upper buds only. Good luck! Dan

I have this exact kind of grape vine in my backyard. It is sour when mature but tolerable. I prune it back to a stick in the winter and it'll grow to the same size next year very quickly. Grapes seem to mature at around Aug here in Yuma, AZ.

I'm still fighting them. Problem is trying to convince neighbors to do the same...and CONTINUE the fight. As I said, once they get onto phone lines or higher nearby branches, we're toast. And if they're near a fence we have to ask permission to go into the yard. And the nuts on one side actually like them so I have to sneak out and do their back trees without riling them. I've heard Roundup Brush Remover does a fairly good job with repeat applications, and read about a product called Vinex. Vinex sounds like something you brush on the roots to kill them. Check it out at Vinex.com, I think. They have a zip code link that will tell you where it's available in your area--not a lot of places carry it and its pricey but not as expensive as removal, replanting of dead trees not to mention the years it takes to get them back to a decent size. Best of luck. Sandy

bad.. you post has nothing to do with the TEN YEAR OLD ORIGINAL ... next time.. start a new one.. with an appropriate title.;.. i dont know why you would want a weed grape.. on a fancy arbor ... i would suggest you invest $20 mail order .. on a named variety.. that will provide you with sublime grapes.. for the rest of your life .. for the purpose you want to accomplish ... and i would suggest.. you visit the fruit forum..and quiz those experts on what to grow.. for what purpose.. in your area ...or talk with a local winery in your area .... as west MI is rather well know for their fruit crops ... if you want a concord grape.. then buy a quality named concord grape... not some weed grape that shot out the butt of a bird... and may or may not end up a valuable grape for making.. lets say jelly ... or wine ... i live over in adrian MI ... home of the raisin river ... the indians and the french used to eat wild raisins found along the banks .... and with hundreds of miles to harvest ... the 1/2 inch grapes were worth something ... again.. let me suggest.. they might not be a great crop.. on one arbor.. in one backyard ... and unfortunately .. you will have invested 5 years in growing such.. before you find out ... invest in a quality cultivar.. and you will be rewarded ... good luck ken ps: you might also want to research the strength of your arbor ... as a grape vine.. left to ramble.. can crush.. many a structure ...