Archives for September 2009

How to Choose the Correct Grape Variety

So you decided to grow grapes then.

How do grapes grow is a good question.

But beware, this is where most of the grape grower make their first mistake. Choosing the correct grape variety is one of the most important decisions any home grape grower needs to take, when it comes to growing grapes. The precise variety will stand between being a successful grape grower or failure.

In the past, choosing a grape vine variety that suits your climate, soil and growing conditions, was much harder than today. On this current situation, there are more than 20 000 known grape varieties in the world, people living in climates, previously thought not suitable for growing grapes, can now plant varieties that was specially bred for to survive in harsh grape growing conditions.

Backyard grape growing is becoming more and more popular by the day, as people more and more strive to live healthier and look after our planet more carefully. Unfortunately, not all backyard is suitable for grape vine planting. You will have to do some research on what varieties suits your climate, your soil and the availability of good quality water.

The next major concern for most home grape grower is a disease called Phylloxera. During the late 1800’s, there was a phylloxera epidemic (a sap-sucking insect that feeds on the roots of the grape vine) destroyed more than two thirds of all the vineyards in Europe. The breeding of Phylloxera resistant/tollerant rootsock, interferred or stopped this disease from killing all grape vines. he preferred method today is planting grafted varieties because the rootstock does not interfere with the development of the grapes.

When choosing the correct grape variety, it is best to visit vineyards in your area and see what varieties are successfully grown there. Most of the time, this is a surefire way of knowing that you have chosen the right variety.

Cold damage to grape vines is another grape growing problem that will influence the choice of grape varieties. If cold damage is an obstacle where you live, choose a variety with a short growing season, so the grape vines have enough time to harden off before winter comes.

A final word of advice; if nobody grow grapes in your area, it doesn’t mean grapes can’t be grown there. Probe first and choose wisely. There is nothing more gratifying than enjoying grapes, grown on your own grape vine and prepared by your hands.

There is a lot of growing grapes book that you can find in a bookstore.

Best of luck!

The Roots Of The Grape Vine

by admin

Because we cannot see the roots of the grape vine without digging into the soil, many grape growers often make the mistake of not ensuring a well-balanced, properly formed root system of the growing grape vines.

Tests have shown that a grape vine growing with well developed and well distributed root system contains lots of fine roots. These fine roots are responsible for the uptake of food and water, which will ensure a well developed canopy throughout the season. It is a known fact that for a good eating quality grape or a good quality grape for wine, active growth during the ripening of the grapes is essential.

A grape vine with an underdeveloped root system, especially fine roots, has a poor buffer capacity against unfavorable conditions, like drought, heat waves and even unwanted rain. The absence of these fine roots will result in less young leaves to form or develop throughout the season.

There must be a proper balance between old and newly formed leaves on a grape vine, because young leaves continue to feed the grapes and the root system of the vine. If there is disproportion and imbalance occurs, the grape vine goes into “stress” and will not be able to maintain the composition of the grapes during the later stages of ripening.

In short; the root quality and quantity of a grape vine is essential for good quality grapes, therefore proper soil preparation and the correct chemical substance of the soil must be determined and corrected before you plant the grape vines. Without any doubt, there is a direct relationship between the canopy development and quality of the root system and in the end the quality of the grapes and wine.

Ascertaining a proper root system, results in canopy management easier and your grape vines will not easily go into “stress” when unwanted climate and external conditions occur.

For further details please see my-grape-vine.com

Learn to Grow Grapes for Excellent Wine

by admin

I think it quite safe to say that more has been written about the cultivation of grapes than has – or ever will be – written about any other fruit. This is not surprising, considering that probably the oldest of known fruits is grape.

Surprisingly, grape planting do not need loads of manures and fertilizers; grapes grow well on quite poor soils and need little after-attention. The roots will search out and find what they want; the only responsibility is where to put the top-growth – the vine itself.

If one of your wall faces south, south-west or even west, that problem is solved very easily. If you cannot plant the vine under that particular wall, plant it round the corner and train the vine round to the sunny side of the house. Grapes may be grown in the open garden in similar fashion to loganberries, or they may be trained over sheds, garages, out-houses and such-like.

Vines are not expensive, and if two are planted, the harvest may be regarded as fantastic when considering the value of the wine that may be made for many years.

Grape planting is best carried out in autumn and in any case before Christmas. If planting against a wall, take out a hole about two feet each way and plant so that the stem of the vine is about fifteen inches away from the wall itself. Dig deeply and work in any compost that may be available and some builders’ rubble taht you can fine. A dusting of lime forked in will be beneficial. Spread out the roots well and plant as recommended for fruit trees.

After having the vine planted, distribute a little manure above the roots: this will not be necessary in subsequent seasons, but the vine will benefit from a mulch each spring if you can give it one.

Vines must not be allowed to fruit the first season; therefore they must be cut back to about four buds.

Having planted the vine and cut it back, we must decide how to train it to cover the wall. The best plan is to use special wall nails, run wires to and from these and train the vine to the wires.

The four long growths that come from the four buds you left when cutting back are stopped at the bud nearest the growing point. These four leaders are the basis from which the vine will be built up to cover the wall. If flower buds form during the first season, they should be nipped off so that the vine uses its energy producing wood for subsequent fruiting. First-season fruiting often permanently weakens a vine.

Grapevine pruning, remember that next year’s fruit will be borne on the wood made this year. But we do not want masses of long, straggling growths hanging about all over the place. Summer it is best time to cut some of them out. Those left to bear next year’s fruit should be cut back to five or six buds in autumn or early winter.

Archives for September 2009

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