Growing grapes in the backyard or garden can be a rewarding experience. It can also be quite a failure if not done properly. Grapevines are perennial plants and will grow for years to come. There are a few things to consider before you just jump in and start planting your grapevines. Otherwise, mistakes made at planting will haunt you in the future.
Grapes need lots of sunshine. One of the biggest mistakes that the home gardener makes when growing grapes is to plant them in the shade under a tree or where they get shaded by houses most of the day. If you watch wild grapevines grow, you will notice they make all efforts to climb trees and shrubs to get into the daylight. Without proper sunlight, proper ripeness cannot be obtained. Be sure the spot you choose has good sun most of the day.
A second mistake that many home gardeners make is to not take into account the grape variety's growth habit and vigor. These two factors come into play when planting the grapevine and deciding on how to trellis the vine.
Vigorous varieties need lots of space. You can find out how vigorous a variety is by consulting your local nursery where you bought your vines. Vigorous varieties need eight feet between vines when planting. Less vigorous varieties can be planted closer at six feet between vines. Very low vigor vines can be planted as close as four feet.
Growth habit determines the trellis type and how the grapevine will be trained and pruned. Grape varieties with a large portion of their ancestry coming from wild American species tend to droop. These are like the wild vines that grow to the top of small trees and shrubs then cascade downward during the summer. The gardener will find that it is best to mimic this natural growth.
Vines of this type will be trained to a high wire about six feet off the ground. The grapevines are pruned to two to four long canes each year. As the shoots grow each year from the canes left at pruning time, they will grow outward from each side and soon start drooping towards the ground, forming a curtain of leaves by the end of the growing season.
Many varieties have the European grape, V.vinifera, in their ancestry. The European grape varieties tend to have a more upright growth. These grape varieties need a more extensive trellis system. At least four wires are needed to contain them. The first wire is approximately three feet off the ground with the two additional wires at eight inch intervals above the bottom wire. The vines are trained to a trunk that extends to the bottom wire.
Two to four canes are pruned and tied to the bottom wire on each side of the trunk. As the shoots grow during the spring and summer they are tied straight up to the wires above. Once the shoots have reached approximately 16 inches above the top wire, they are cut off at the tips. This "hedging" prevents further growth and shading of the vine below.
Grapes need a good water supply when they are actively growing in the spring and summer. They should be watered at least once a week in areas of little rain. More often under droughty conditions. This watering shoud be continued until the berries begin to turn color. After coloring, watering is not needed and will in fact slow the ripening process. Once the leaves have fallen in the fall, one last large watering should be undertaken before the ground freezes to get the vines through the winter.
Perhaps the biggest mistake I see with home gardeners growing grapes is neglecting pruning the vines each year. This is a must! Without pruning the grapevine becomes an overgrown tangled mess. The grapevines overbear and the berries don't ripen properly. Disease sets in as the vine is over shaded and doesn't recieve drying winds. The vines will weaken over time and eventually die before their time.
Pruning removes 90-95% of the previous year's growth. It keeps the vines in balance and aids in controlling the crop and ripening the fruit. Pruning the grapevine is an art, not a science. Information on grapevine pruning can be obtained through your local Ag Extension agent. They have agricultural bulletins that detail the pruning process. You can also find comments at: http://www.ristcanyonvineyards.com/grapevine_pruning_and_training.html
Growing grapevines can be a nice hobby that will provide you and your family with fresh fruit or grapes to make wine with. Table grape varieties and wine varieties are distinct. Make sure you are planting the proper varieties for the wanted purpose. Home gardeners should also make sure that the varieties they are planting are adapted to their local climate. Some varieties cannot take cold winters, while others can tolerate freezing temperatures down to -25-30F.
Varieties that have American grape species in their ancestry can tolerate colder winters. Make sure you consult with your nurseryman to fit the variety you are planting to your conditions. The variety you choose must also be able to ripen in your climate. I see too many home gardeners planting varieties that take up to 170 days or more to ripen in areas that have only 150 days or less in their growing seasons.
If you are thinking of growing grapevines in your backyard or garden, be sure to consider the above factors before you start planting. Choose your grape varieties based upon what you plan to use them for, how they are adapted to the local growing conditions, and plan the trellis according to the variety's growth habit. I wish you all the luck in your endeavor.
Jim Bruce has been growing grapes since the mid-seventies under a range of growing conditions. His Rist Canyon Vineyards is a research project to aid others in growing grapes. More information can be found at http://www.ristcanyonvineyards.com
Landscape lighting can add a beautiful quality to any home.... Read More
One of the best ways to bring together the many... Read More
It is wisest to let Nature have Her way. Nature... Read More
Perennial plants and flowers stay around for more than just... Read More
The areas of your landscape can be divided into several... Read More
Different from any other chair, the Adirondack chair was first... Read More
Rising from a muddy pond, a lotus flower blossoms. Such... Read More
The black walnut tree manufactures a substance that is a... Read More
Gardening is fun and rewarding and may be considered a... Read More
Every Garden can benefit from the addition of container gardens.... Read More
Naturalized bulbs look beautiful in a wooded setting. You can... Read More
We've all heard that there is no such thing as... Read More
To design a wild flower garden, you do not need... Read More
A principle of all art is unity. This means that... Read More
Although push lawn mowers are wonderful machines that do a... Read More
Do you have a knack for being with moths? Most... Read More
In addition to the traditional strawberry patch, there are as... Read More
Today there are sprays, scented candles, plug-ins, and even discs... Read More
Flower gardening is not only about the present, but can... Read More
The world's tallest unsupported flagpole is located in Amman, Jordan.... Read More
Annuals in your pernnial garden are something to think about!... Read More
You might be tempted to let Mother Nature, tend to... Read More
A focal point is an important design element; it is... Read More
There's a new garden in town. It is (mostly) easy... Read More
A Shade Garden can be created in any of several... Read More
With summer right around the corner, it's time to sit... Read More
Bare Root Roses, what to look for when buyingThe first... Read More
Think of your garden like you would a room in... Read More
Palm family is unique in the aspect that most of... Read More
Hydroponics gardening is a great idea for anyone who wants... Read More
My first apartment was a second-story condo in an urban... Read More
No matter how pleasant a garden is, it is not... Read More
When spring comes and the ground is thawed, it is... Read More
Like many Americans, you may find bird watching to be... Read More
Asparagus is a perennial plant with erect, edible stems and... Read More
Orchid Care Part 4 Diseases of the RootsOur final part... Read More
Gardening is a hobby that brings joy, entertainment, and a... Read More
Roses may be beautiful but Tulips are magnificent. The huge... Read More
Whether you call them Hydrangea Macrophylla, House Hydrangea, French Hydrangea,,... Read More
THE BASICS OF HYDROPONICS.An Introduction To Indoor Plant Grow Lights.There... Read More
You've planted the flowers, put in the shrubs and even... Read More
Camellias Named by Linnaeus in 1735 in honour of... Read More
If you look closely at the natural landscape, you'll never... Read More
Have you noticed how everything looks great at the moment... Read More
Have you ever thought about how much it costs to... Read More
Perhaps you were browsing the pages of a catalog and... Read More
The silk flower is growing in popularity among young couples... Read More
Planting roses isn't actually complicated, as long as you have... Read More
Planting wild flowers in your garden, or simply scattering wild... Read More
There is nothing more cheerful than vases full of fresh... Read More
The areas of your landscape can be divided into several... Read More
Ok, the title "winter gardening" might be a tad bit... Read More
Do you wish you could grow a sustainable vegetable garden?... Read More
A beautiful wooden deck, properly maintained, can add greatly to... Read More
Botanists are individuals who conduct extensive study on plant biology... Read More
Can't wait to get back to the garden? Use this... Read More
Patio accessories can range from small to large and of... Read More
Traditionally Hindu tepmples were located either on hills or forests... Read More
Bamboo is a mysterious and elusive plant that baffles taxonomists... Read More
"I have no plants in my house. They won't live... Read More
When most people hear the words, "park bench", they envision... Read More
This is the time of the year that I keep... Read More
Before planting, the plants must be prepared. The following suggestions... Read More
Installing a backyard fish pond is an aesthetic addition to... Read More
Ladybugs, also called lady beetles or ladybirds, can be a... Read More
With air and water temperatures dropping in most parts of... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |