Grapes, Glorious Grapes!
Grapes are not difficult to grow, especially when you select varieties that are best suited for your soil and growing conditions.
Beyond that, success boils down to starting plants off right when planting, and providing the proper long term support and care for vines.
Selecting what grape variety to grow starts with knowing what you want from your crop. Are you looking for table grapes to eat? Or perhaps grapes for making jam, jellies, juice or wine?
Concord grapes ripening on the vine. Concord grapes are perfect for those looking to make juice, jams and jellies.
The most important task of all for successful planting is selecting a grape variety that handles your climate and soil conditions well.
All grapes need sun to grow well. For starters, select a location that is either full sun, or as close to full sun as possible.
Locations that receive at least morning and afternoon sun are the best. It not only helps to ripen crops, but also helps dry vines and prevent mildew.
When to plant depends on how your grapes arrive to you – bare root and dormant, or rooted and budding. Bare root grape vines need to be planted as soon as ground can be worked in the early spring.
Bare root grapes beginning to bud and flower. Once this occurs, you must wait until the threat of hard frosts or freezes pass.
These vines are dormant, and will warm up and spring to life as the temperatures warm. Because they are dormant, they are not affected by early or late spring frosts or freezes.
If, however, you have purchased flowering plants, or bare root plants that are already flowering, you need to wait until the threat of hard frost in your area is over to plant.
Grapes are a perennial, meaning the soil needs to be prepared for years of future growth. It is vital to amend the soil at planting time to provide both long-term nutrients, and good drainage. Compost is ideal for this.
Grape plants are susceptible to rot, especially when young and tender. Leaving the soil loose helps to provide circulation and drainage early on. If you pack the soil too tightly, the roots simple can’t breathe. The soil may sink over the following month around the plant, simply add more as it does to level up to the soil line.
Grape plants need support, both to keep vines protected, and to keep fruit off the ground. Depending on how many plants you will grow, everything from a simple trellis to a few lines of wire attached to poles can work.
Whether on an arbor, a trellis, post and lines, or even a fence – grape vines need support to produce a healthy crop of grapes.
Grapes can also be grown to cover a fence, or to fill the top of an arbor or pergola.
Plants should be spaced 6 to 10′ apart when growing in long rows. For planting on a trellis or around a structure, plant vines on the corners out of direct foot traffic.
No matter where you plant, remember that birds are very fond of grapes as well. As the crop begins to mature, it is a good idea to have netting on hand for protection.
During the first year of growth, all grapes that form on vines should be removed from the plant. This allows all of the power of the plant to go towards growing strong stems and roots.
One of the most important tasks when growing grapes is long-term pruning. Pruning vines is important to keep plants healthy and productive. Pruning should be performed in early spring when plants are still dormant.
Removing old growth is vital to keep vines producing for years to come.
Grapes form only on new shoots from the main canes, so prune back old growth to the main canes.
For most new grape plantings, the first two to three years will require minimal pruning. As plants mature, more old growth will need to be removed in subsequent years.
Here is a look at some of the popular varieties to grow:
Concord Grape Vines – Growing Zones 5 through 9 ( Good for juice, jellies and jams)
Mars Grape Vines – Growing Zones 6 through 10 ( Good for juice, jellies and jams and fresh eating)
Zinfandel Grape Vines – Growing Zones 6 through 10 ( Good for wine and juice)
Black Spanish Wine Grape Vines – Growing Zones 6 through 10 ( wine grape)