If you have decided to grow grapes at home you need to remember several things. Grapes require full sun, moderate water, and a lot of attention to pruning and protection against pests and diseases. You will have the most success if you choose a variety particularly suited to your soil conditions and climate.
There are three basic types of grapes: wine grapes, table grapes, and slipskin grapes. Wine grapes include such types as Cabernet and Chardonnay. Table grapes are commonly Thompson seedless or Red Flame. Concord is a common type of slipskin.
There are many aspects to growing grapes but here are the outlines of the six main steps.
First, decide which type of grape that you want to grow. Be sure to check with your local nursery to see which specific variety best matches the conditions in your area.
Second, plant the grapes from nursery stock or cuttings. Make sure the site has full sun in order to have the best fruit production. Developing grapes require sufficient heat. If you plant the vines in shady areas, they are likely to develop fungus based diseases. Most varieties should be spaced 7-8 feet apart.
Third, amend the soil. Make sure that it is loose, fast draining and loamy. Grapes put out deep roots so the deeper you amend the soil, the better it is for the vine. Most grapes require 36-70 inches of loose soil before hitting bedrock.
You will probably want to have the acidity level of the soil checked as well. Soils with too much or too little acid may need to be amended to make them satisfactory for supporting the vine growth.
Fourth, build a trellis system to support the vines. Vines are not capable of bearing the weight that the ripening fruit causes so they will need the support of t trellis structure. Without a support system, the grapes will bend to the ground where they will be susceptible to rot.
Fifth, prune the grapes when they are in their dormant stage. Remove the long runners to keep the plants compact and under control.
Last, remove long runners mid-season to keep the plants under control and to encourage fruit development.
If all has gone well, you should have a great crop to harvest. Just keep in mind that grapes do NOT ripen after they have been picked. Therefore, choosing just the right moment to harvest them is critical. The color of the fruit isn't a good indicator of their maturity. What determines the readiness of fruit for harvest is the percentage of sugar and the ratio of sugar to acid.
The average temperature must be greater than 50 degrees F for grapes ton continue to mature. If the temps are routinely below this, the grapes will not ripen. Rain can also cause the fruit to shatter or crack so you want to bring in the harvest before the rains begin.
Once the grapes are off the vine you can enjoy the fruits of your labor-literally. Sip wine made with the unique taste that can come from your grapes. Make those jams and jellies and enjoy with your breakfast. Or, just pop them into your mouth for a delicious burst of flavor. In any case, enjoy the adventure of creating your own vineyard.
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