Home-Grown Grapes

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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How to Grow Grapes

If you want to start growing grapes there are several things to consider. It takes time, energy, and patience to grow grapes successfully. Many books have been written on the subject but the process is briefly outlined for you here.

Step one is to decide which types of grapes you are going to grow. It is more than just going to the nursery and randomly selecting something you think looks good. The final selection you make will depend upon the climate zone in which you live, the type of soil that you have, and the exposure to the sun. You also have to think about whether you are growing table grapes or if you are growing wine grapes. Once you have that information, you can head out to the nursery where they will be to help you select the variety that is best for your specific situation. Just remember, you will have to wait about three years before you get your first crop so pack some patience in your pocket.

Once you buy your rootstock you have to remember that you must keep the roots wet until planting. If you are going to plant them the next day, it's OK to soak the roots in a bucket of water. Longer than that, however, can ruin the roots. You can wait longer than a day to plant but you will have to make sure that the roots are properly stored and watered.

The next step in the process is the actual planting. Most vines need to be planted 8-10 feet apart in soil that has good drainage. Grape vines don't like to have "wet feet" and stand in puddles of water.

Just because they don't like "wet feet" doesn't mean they don't like water, however. You will need to make sure that the vines get plenty of water during the first month or so. You will need to soak the entire root of the vine and keep the roots moist for the first month. This allows the roots to settle in and anchor themselves.

Make sure to tend to the soil around the base of the vine. It is not uncommon for vines to have roots that extend out 5-6 feet so be sure to clean out the weeds.

In the first couple of years you will have to check the leaves of the plant carefully. The leaves should be dark green in color. If not, it may mean that you need to supplement your soil with specific nutrients. You may find that you have to add about six inches of compost or manure around the base.

Grapevines need to be trained to grow on a trellis or other supporting structure. You will need to build a trellis system. Once built, you will need to teach the vines how to position themselves on the trellis. This can be a little tricky. Make sure the vines are pointed in the right direction.

Pruning is a vital part of the grape growing process. Grapes need careful pruning in order to assure that the plant gets enough light and to encourage the growth of fruit. Pruning usually takes place in the late spring or after the hardest part of the winter has passed.

You need to be diligent about protecting your vines from pests or other animals such as deer. You may find that placing a net over the vines will help. But be sure that there is ample circulation of air because grapes are dependent upon good airflow to maintain their health and to protect from diseases such as fungus.

Finally, you must harvest the fruit. Be sure not to harvest them too early. It is not the color of the grape that determines prime harvest time. Rather, it is the sugar content and the balance between the acid and sugar that is the key.

If you do all of these things you may be rewarded with some sweet fruit. Beware that raising grapes involves a considerable investment of time and energy. However, in the end, as you sit sipping the wine made from your grapes, or munching on those plump sweet fruit, you may forget, at least for a moment, about all the work you had to put in.

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