Grape Plants
Growing Grape Plants
Grape plants are one of the most widely grown plant species in the world. In fact there are over 8000 varieties of grape plant species worldwide. They are split into two types, bunch grapes and muscadines and can be cultivated to produce a wide array of editable and drinkable delicacies. Growing grapes at your home for decoration or for the fruits they produce can be relatively easy. With the proper soil and pruning methods you can grow grape vines that produce up to 25 pounds of fruit per plant!
Grape plants can be grown from seeds, started plants available from nurseries or can be started from cuttings. If you choose to start from cuttings, it is best to cut them in late fall or early spring when they are dormant. Choose healthy canes growing directly from the shoot and cut them at a 45 degree angle, leaving 3 nodes on each branch. Plant them immediately after cutting in a humid setting and protect them from direct sunlight for a while.
Outdoor grapes like lots of sun and heat. There are many different varieties that prefer different qualities, so pick a species that is best suited to the climate that you live in. Cooler temperatures produce grapes with less sugar and a higher acid content. The best time to plant grapes is between October and February, and their growing season is about 150-180 days. Plants that mature the fastest during the growing season will produce more fruit. They prefer good draining, deep soil that has a pH of about 5-5.2. Good moisture content in soil is important for grapes. Clay soils can have too much moisture, while sandy soils may be too dry. Plant your grapes about 5-8 feet apart from one another and if you are planting several plants in rows then keep 8 feet between rows. It is a good idea to fertilize your soil in the winter. They will also need something to grow on since they are vines.
In order to allow your grape plants to produce the most amounts of fruit each season, it is important to prune them. Heavy pruning allows for large bunches of fruit. Wine varieties should have about 20-30 buds left after pruning, while juice or jelly varieties should have about 40-60 buds left. There are several pruning methods to choose from.
The Kniffen method is best for plants in warmer climates where cold damage is less likely to occur. The stem should grow straight up and the shoots should come out horizontally. Support is given by creating horizontal wires about 60 inches high and 36 inches wide. Once the plant has grown up to these wires, tie the laterals to the wire to train them to grow that way. Cut any laterals between the wires. You can develop plants with several horizontal wire sections.
The bush method is easy to do. Cut the shoots every year about 1 inch from the stem to create a bushy plant. Some people consider this method to produce awkward plants and sometimes the trailers can ruin the berries by dragging them on the ground.
The Cordon method uses a t-shaped clothesline like setup to grow branches horizontally. These branches grow into thick laterals and fruits grow under them from spurs. The Espalier method creates tiers of branches flat against a wall. It is an interesting and good looking setup, but is very hard to do and maintain. The Fan shape method can be done using a frame work of wires to train the branches into a fan shape.
For grape plants that have to contend with winter conditions, it is best to cut them down to a stem before winter so that the stalk can be removed from its supports and bent down to the ground. It can then be buried in 6 inches of soil and remain protected during the winter. After the frost it can be lifted and reattached to its support. Then it should be trained to grow straight up with the spurs cut back to 1-2 buds. A plant with the desired height of 6 feet will then produce a lot of fruit.
Birds can ruin your grape harvest as they seem to enjoy the fruit as much as we do. Netting can be draped over the plants to protect fruit but still allow sunlight to enter. Keep the leaves apart from one another by pruning to allow for good air flow. This will help prevent fungi from growing and ruining your plants. Lots of sunlight and avoiding excess moisture will help too. Be sure to remove any infected leaves or fruit to get rid of any fungi that appears. Also be careful with any pesticides used in the area, especially those used for dandelions, as they will destroy your plants.
Grapes will not ripen after they are picked and they often change colors at different times, so to prevent picking your grapes too soon it is best to go by taste then color. Grapes can be made into wine, eaten fresh, dried or even juiced. Enjoy your fresh grapes right off the vine in exchange for all your hard work in cultivating your grape plants.