Which practice reduces frost risk by keeping bare soils between vines?

• A. Delaying pruning
• B. Bare soils between the vines
• C. Site selection
• D. Late-budding varieties

Answer: (B)

Frost risk is influenced by the microclimate between vine rows. Keeping bare soils between the vines helps heat exchange between the ground and the air, warming the bud zone on frosty nights. Bare soil stores heat during the day and releases it at night, and the lack of dense ground cover reduces moisture and insulation that can trap cold air, making it easier for air to circulate and stay above freezing near the canopy. In short, this practice directly modifies the ground–air interactions to reduce the likelihood of frost damage.

Other strategies—delaying pruning, choosing warmer sites, or using late-budding varieties—alter frost risk through timing or geography, but they don’t involve maintaining bare soil between rows.