The Backyard VineyardWine for the rest of us

Growing grapes at home is not just a matter of buying the plants, plopping it in some hole, watering it and waiting for it to grow and bear fruit. There are a lot of things to consider when growing grapes, among them:

• Find a location where the vines will be able to get as much sunlight as possible. Grapes need the sun for disease prevention as well as for more luscious and juicy fruits. If it is difficult or impossible to plant in a sunny location, position the vines so it grows towards the sun. Although grape vines will seek sunlight, you need to help it go in the direction where the sunlight is most likely to be at a maximum. The drainage in your chosen location should also be good since the plants will not grow well in heavy clay soil or in soils with poor drainage. The roots will rot. For areas that are not so fertile, you can add organic materials or compost to improve its condition.
• Find adequate space to grow your grapes. The space you need for growing grapes would depend a lot on how many plants you really want and for what purpose your production would be. If you plan on just growing it. If you just want a plant or two for eating, you can even grow them from pots on a deck if your space is limited. If you are thinking of producing wine to market, you would definitely need a bigger space. Grape wines can produce for as long as 50 to 100 years so it would be a good idea to find a permanent space in your backyard where you can plant them.
• Study the climate in your area. You should know the highest and lowest temperature, the amount of rainfall, humidity and number of sunlight hours each day so you will know if your area is suitable for grape growing and to determine what variety of grape would be best. Grapes typically need about 170 days that are sunny, frost free and with a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit in order to ripen fully. Every variety has a different growing season length though so check what your chosen variety needs.
• Build an arbor, fence or trellis where the vines can climb before you plant them. They can be a formal structure or just any plain woven structure where the vine can creep on. It can be made out of wood, metal or PVC pipe. What is important is that the structure can support a full growth of vines, leaves and fruit bunches. It takes approximately three years for the grapes to fruit so the structure should be able to withstand more than three years of constant exposure to all kinds of weather.
• Plant in a hole that is big enough to allow for loose soil around the new plants. Grapes develop roots in loose soil. The vines should be planted with the same depth as it was planted in the nursery. Watering the plants with about an inch of water per week during the first season. Prune regularly in order to regulate growth and channel growth to strengthening its trunks. Weed frequently, if needed. Weeds do not agree with grape vines as their roots are shallow and are easily affected by other plants around it, including weeds.

When you keep all these factors and tips in mind, you are on your way to having your own grapes in your backyard and have the pleasure of saying that you were able to successfully grow your own.

Grape growing has a long history and grapes have a variety of uses and are not just for eating. Seventy one percent of the worlds’ grape production is made into wine, from cheap table wine to the best vintage champagnes. Grapes make delectable raisins, fruit jam and jelly, candy and vinegar. The growing trend for healthy living has made grape seed extract one of the most sought-after health supplements.

Growing grapes have evolved from having to grow them under direct sunlight to being able to grow them anywhere. Whereas before you need the right climate combination for grapes to grow successfully, you are now able to harvest excellent grapes even in extreme climates which previously was never suitable for grapes.

There are five thousand grape varieties and those starting off with grape growing should best look for a variety that has already been proven to suit the location where they plan to plant them. To filter the grape varieties that you will be choosing from, find out how long the growing season is, meaning the days when there is no frost. Some grape varieties need longer time to ripen fully so these are best planted in areas that have longer frost-free days. Researching from grape experts or local vintners will help you make the decision on what variety to plant.

The area where they will be planted and the weather conditions in that particular area will make a big difference in the taste of the grapes itself or the wine that they will be made into, if you plan to make them into wine. Each particular grape and wine derives its characteristics from the soil they grow in and the weather conditions at the time that they are grown. Grapes grown in Napa, California will not taste the same as grapes planted in France.

Hybrid grape varieties have made it possible for grapes to withstand the cold climates and be more resistant to pests and diseases that plague them. However, not all hybrids can be grown successfully in every place in the world. Hybrids can only be productive depending on the climate condition of the area where they are planted. It is still a combination of the right soil and the right climate that will determine the quality of hybrid grape harvests.

Wine grapes have a different characteristic. They have tight and thick skin that makes it the best choice for the wine since the aroma of wines comes mainly from the skin. Wine grapes are usually seeded and small in comparison to other types with quite high sugar content of 24 percent sugar by weight, making them very sweet and ideal for wine fermentation.

Vitis Vinifera is the species from which almost all or over ninety-nine percent of the wines in the world are made from. Vitis Vinifera has hundreds of different cultivars that have varied characteristics as well, hence the differences in the taste, flavor and quality of the wines that they produce. The Vitis Vinifera grapes are from the Mediterranean, southwestern Asia, Spain and Central Europe while Vitis Labrusca or American grapes can be found in eastern United States and Canada. Both red and white grapes are used to make wine. The popular red varieties are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah while the popular white grape varieties include Chardonnay, Riesling and Chenin Blanc. Without grapes, there would never be as much wine as the world currently has.

Grape plants are vines and need something to climb up on. When they bear a full harvest of ripe fruits, the vines alone cannot support them. The combined weight of vines, leaves and fruits need to be supported properly with a climbing medium that can bear this weight. Trellises are one of the most common support system used in the grape industry.

Grape vine trellises come in a variety of styles, some built for decorative purposes while others are more for functionality. They come in a variety of designs, shapes and sizes depending on what the grape grower opts for. Trellises can be made from iron, stainless steel, PVC pipe, aluminum or pre-treated wood. It takes about three years for grapes to start bearing fruit from the time that it is planted so it is imperative that you choose materials that are durable and can withstand the constant exposure to all weather elements. A grape vine trellis sometimes comes in a do it yourself kit that can be done by the grape grower himself or done by professional contractors. Growers oftentimes find it easier to buy readymade trellises as they are immediately functional although they may be a little more expensive. The bottom line is that the trellis should be sturdy enough to withstand the weight of a full harvest.

Trellis heights vary depending on the climate of the area where the grapes will be planted. For colder climates, a short trellis of about 2 to 3 feet in height with posts of 3 feet high would be able to withstand the cold winter weather. They also make it easier to prepare the vines for winter. Taller trellises which are 7 to 8 feet high and 3 inches in diameter, are suitable for warmer climates.

Grape vines grow best in a place that has a large amount of sunlight and a lot of air movement. These two elements are necessary for its healthy growth, for the control of grape diseases and for ripening of the grapes. They should not be compromised so find a good place in your area that is best for grape growing. It is highly recommended to cement the posts on the ground portion in order to protect it from the damaging components of the soil and increase the trellis’ durability. The main posts should be anchored either to the ground by using catch wires to help support it or by using a shorter post that is installed right next to the main post. Run two rows of galvanized steel wire between the posts with the first one running towards the bottom portion, just about three inches from the ground and the second one running along the top of the posts where the main vines will creep.

Grape vines need to be trained to grow on the trellis. Once the main shoot starts to shoot up, train them to creep up the posts by tying them vertically to the trellis posts. It is more preferable to use string instead of metal wire to prevent damage to the vine. Grape vines are slow growers and it would take about three years for the vine to reach fruiting stage. Once it reaches the top portion, the vines should be tied horizontally and securely to the trellis as this will be where the grape fruits will grow.

Everybody knows and loves grapes, in whatever form they may be – as fresh fruit, dried, jam and jelly, juice or wine.  Grapes grow in bunches with as little as 6 fruits to as many as an amazing 300 grapes per bunch. Different varieties have different uses; table grapes are for eating while wine grapes are for wine. Grapes have been grown for centuries and its study has become a different branch of science specifically focused on grapes.  This includes a study of its culture, breeds and varieties and cultivation.  This branch is called viticulture.

But not everybody has the time, knowledge and skill to grow them.  But wouldn’t it be nice to just go out to your backyard and harvest fresh grapes directly from your own vine?  Here are a few secrets on growing grapes from your own backyard:

• Choose what variety of grape you want to grow by asking yourself what you plan to do with the grapes. Is it for eating or for making wine?  Will you dry it or preserve it into jams and jellies? What is the climate and soil in your area? Talk to other grape experts within your area to find out what varieties grow best in your area. If you plan to grow wine grapes which are more complicated to grow, ask the help of a viticulturist.

• Select an area in your backyard that is well exposed to sunlight and has free flow of air. Meaning there are no big trees or any structure that may block sunlight since grapes thrive well under the sun.  The grapes are protected from fungi and diseases by the sunlight. They are also crucial in developing the sugar content of the fruit.

• The soil in the area where you will be planting the grapes should be fertile and well tilled.  Add compost if it is not fertile enough. The soil needs to be loamy and loose so that the grapes will be able to root deeply into the soil and the water will drain well so the roots do not rot.

• Build trellises or any other structure that the grape vines can creep on.  They should be sturdy enough to last more than the three years.  It takes this amount of time for the grapes to start fruiting.  They should also be long enough to carry the weight of the vines, leaves and grape fruits considering a full harvest.  For places with cold weather, short trellises are recommended to protect the plants from the cold while tall trellises are recommended for areas with warm weather.  The trellises should be tall enough so the grape fruits will not touch the ground which will cause them to rot.

• Plant the vines about 6 feet apart for proper growth. Dig large holes so that when you put back the soil over the roots of your new plants, the soil will be loose around it and the new plant will have no problem rooting.

• Prune the shoots that protrude from the side of the plants on a regular basis.  Remove the brown and brittle vines which may have withered after the cold temperature of winter. You will get plump and juicy grapes if you prune regularly.

• Look out for birds, pests, insects or fungi and mildew that may attack grapes. Cover the vines with a big net to keep away the birds. Expose the grapes to the sun to prevent fungi and mildew.  Better yet, look for grape varieties that have a higher resistance to diseases.

With the right tools and knowledge, learning how to grow grapes is not as difficult as you first thought it would be.