Posted on October 9, 2009 in Gardening Ideas
Grapes are excellent fruit for home garden. They are versatile and are adaptable to all types of soil and wide range of climates. Growing grapes is relatively easy and moreover the vines do not take up much space. All that is needed is some patience and commitment as the grapes do not produce quickly as other garden fruits.
Here are few steps for grape gardening:
- The first step is to select the location in your garden. Grapes require a long-term care and they generally do not produce to their full extent until the fifth or sixth year. You should choose the site so that the vine are undisturbed for atleast a decade.
- Sunny location is best for grapes. Places of stagnation can be harmful for the vines. Also aviod frosty areas as new shoot growth in summer seasons can lead to frost injuries. Sheltered home surroundings are ideal as they are warmer. Slopings areas can also be choosen as appropriate site for grape vines.
- Soil can be of any type except the heavy clay soils or poor drainage soils.
- Choose the type of grapes you want to grow from cultivars. Select grape cuttings and set them in trench about 6 inches apart in the rows of 2 to 4 feet apart. Once the roots are developed transfer them to the permanent location. You can get this directly from nurseries if you desire.
- Planting the grape roots in early spring is ideal. Before planting prune off all the broken roots and trim very long roots. Place the plant in a hole deep and broad enough to spread roots in all directions.
- The vines need trellis as there cannot be fence everytime. While constructing trellis see that it is strong and adequately braced.
- The spacing between the rows depends on the type of training and trellis you have chosen. In your home garden 9 to 10 feet of spacing between the rows is suitable. Spacing between the plants should be atleast 7 to 8 feet.
- The important part of cultivating grapes is training the vines. The wines need be carefully trained so that the plant is established well on the trellis. Select the strongest shoot that grows from each newly planted vine and train it to a stake, twine, or wire so that it develops into a straight, strong trunk. Prune off all other shoots that our grow from the shoot.
- Keep on pruning till the plant becomes strong and stands on the trellis. The plant needs pruning several times a year, probably every season for the healthy growth and early fruiting.
- As far as watering or irrigating is concerned, young vines need more water compared to the established ones. Once the plant is fruiting be careful not to irrigate it overhead as it can lead to fruit rots.
- Grapes dont require high fertile soil so adding fertilizers can just be an option. You can add some manure or compost but do not apply much mulch as it can delay fruiting.
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