Grape Vine Care and The Art Of Pruning
March 7, 2009
Did you know that grapes are one of the oldest cultivated plants? Growing grape vines and grape vine care isn’t something that has just now started. The practice has been around for thousands of years. That means for thousands of years people have been experiencing both the joys and the heartaches of growing grapes. The joy lies in seeing something that you’ve nurtured and taken care of grow up strong and healthy. The heartache lies in not researching grape vine care, doing the wrong thing and possibly killing your plant.
Grapes are very versatile fruits. They can be eaten right off the vine or used in the production of such lovely products as jams, jellies, juices and the ever popular wine. This had boosted the popularity of growing grape vines, both commercially and recreationally. The thing is that grape vines are more delicate than a lot of other plants and if your grape vine care isn’t done properly you can actually inflict serious damage.
There are two main grape growing systems that you’ll need to know about and the type that you’ll have to use will be dependent upon the type of grapes that you’re growing. Sure, there are more systems but these tend to be a bit simpler and a lot more popular. They are the four-cane and the six-cane Kniffin systems.
The more straightforward system is the four-cane. As the name suggests, this system makes use of four canes, 2 on each side of the trunk of the main vine. These are trained unto 2 trellis wires. What you’ll end up with are four renewal spurs which will in turn produce canes the following year in the desired direction. The six-cane system is very similar to this except that six canes are trained to three trellis wires. Since you’ll obviously be having more vine growth in the latter case, this particular system is best attempted with less vigorous varieties.
Once your vines start to grow, proper grape vine care etiquette demands that you ensure correct pruning procedures are used. Pruning is essential for the continued health of grape plants and is best done during early spring or late winter. The vines tend to be dormant around this time so there is less risk of damage to the buds or any other structures. It doesn’t matter if you are growing table grapes or if the grapes are for wind in a vineyard.
Pruning grape vines gives you an idea of how many buds are on the vines so you can have a good estimate of what your crop is going to look like. It also allows you to remove excess buds. You might be thinking why on earth you would want to do that. It’s simple…the plant is not going to able to gather enough resources to ensure that all the grape bunches ripen properly. After all, there is only a finite amount of nutrients available. It is best to gut down on the number of bunches but make certain that the ones allowed too grow are of a high quality.
Yes, grape vine care can be tricky business. If you’re not sure how many buds you should keep and how many to remove, there’s a simple rule of thumb that many gardeners go by. For every pound of pruned material that you remove, you get to keep approximately 10 buds. Of course you may have to actually weigh this initially but with time you’ll get the hang of it.
Grape Vines Have Needs Too
March 7, 2009
No one can argue that growing grape vines isn’t an exciting and fascinating hobby. Grape vines not only provide delectable bunches of grapes but they are also superb landscaping plants with the power to transform a dull exterior into a thing of beauty. The key to having healthy grape vines is to know what factors affect their growth and choosing a variety which is known to be hardy in your specific climate zone.
Where you plant your grape vines will go a long way in ultimately determining your success. Whether you’re a home grower or a commercial grower, planting your vines in the wrong place is a surefire way of making sure they don’t grow properly. That’s because the conditions at any given site are unique to that area and you need to choose complementary grape vines if you want them to be healthy. This is crucial when setting up a vineyard.
Climate is the single most important factor when it comes to producing high quality grapes and keeping grape vines in good shape. Very hot and very cold climates tend to affect the quality of the grapes and consequently the quality of anything you plan on making from them, including wine. Your best bet is finding out the length of the growing season and picking varieties which ripen during said season. You might think that summer is the best time for grapes to ripen. You’d be wrong. If the excessive heat has an effect on you, think about what it’ll do to the delicate grapes.
The slope of your land is another thing that might affect the health of your grape vines. South facing slopes tend to be a little warmer and have a longer growing season. North facing slopes typically have a shorter growing season. However, the former is usually a little bit more susceptible to frost damage so it’s something that you’ll need to look out for. Of course, if you have a backyard garden it’s likely to be flat and that’s one less factor you have to concern yourself about.
The surrounding vegetation can also pose a problem. If you have a lot of shade trees, your grape vines are not going to produce good bunches. Grape vines need sunlight to grow and to ripen the fruit. Shade blocks the plant from being ablt to produce healthy buds, and cause cause already flowering buds to drop off. Surrounding flora can also use up valuable nutrients that your grape vines need to mature. And let’s not forget that flora is often a home to fauna. Many animals can pose a threat to your vines…let’s not even get started on those insipid little insect pests.
You need to remember in learning how to grow grapes that grape vines have a very extensive root system and need a lot of room to grow. Some of the more extensive systems can reach more than 30 ft. Of course you’ll need nutrient rich soil, but grape vines also need soil which can drain thoroughly. Mind you, sandy soil won’t do because there is a very low rate of moisture retention. Neither will soil with too much clay as this can cause water logging.
Your best tool when growing grape vines is information and there’s a ton of it out there, from websites, to forums, to downloadable courses on how to grow grapes. Even if you don’t succeed on your first attempt at growing grape vines, don’t give up. If you live in very cold climates, it’s not unheard of to have grape vines die from frost damage. Luckily, there are many varieties which are quite resistant to cold, and new varieties are constantly being developed. Keep trying until you find the perfect grape vines. The end result is sure to be worth it.
Information is Your Best Tool When Grapes Growing
March 7, 2009
Read any guide on grapes growing today and they’ll tell you about all the things that you should do to make certain that you have great fruit to harvest. That’s all well and good, but what about the things that you just shouldn’t do at all costs? Come on, you might call yourself an expert grower now, but we’ve all been there. We’ve all done something to our grape vines that in hindsight just didn’t make any sense. Of course we’ve realized that it didn’t make sense at the point when we were holding our poor, dead vines in our hands in a scene straight out of a Hollywood tearjerker.
Before you go any further I’d like to recommend a quick and easy way to learn it’s called The Complete Grape Growing System
Take the experience of my neighbor Jim. My dear friend Jim, after looking at a landscaping documentary, decided that his backyard could benefit tremendously from the presence of a grape vine or two….an admirable conclusion to draw. His conclusion of what type of grape variety to grow was perhaps less admirable for Jim, the man who had absolutely no experience with grapes growing at all decided that he wanted a Pinot Noir vine of his very own. At this point, all the experienced growers who are reading this are uttering a collective groan accompanied by much head shaking.
For those of you who may not quite as familiar with the variety, here’s some information. Pinot Noir is a very sought after grape type for wine making because of its range of aromas and silky texture. Pinot Noir is also frost and disease sensitive and it ripens very early in the season (when there’s more frost). See the problem? It’s a gifted child, but an exceptionally difficult one.
Jim didn’t care as he has his heart set on those luscious grapes. He sourced his vines from the nursery (the guy behind the counter had a good laugh) and then proceeded to make every mistake ever known to grapes growing. He dug his planting hole, stuck the poor thing in there and then added the wrong fertilizer, which of course damaged the roots. Mind you, he also planted the thing under a tree. His grape vine care reasoning? He didn’t want to get sunburns while taking care of it, plus it could just climb the tree so he wouldn’t have to build a trellis. It was never certain exactly what killed it. It could have been the 5 inches of snow…possibly the subsequent massive insect infestation…maybe even the fact that he watered the thing almost every day. Needless to say, that was the end of the grapes growing adventure and nary a grape was to be seen.
What, you may be asking, is the point of this story? The point, my dear readers, is that learning how to grow grapes can only be achieved by arming yourself with as much information as possible. You need to know your climate and know what grape varieties will do best under those conditions. Grape vines cannot uproot themselves, plait themselves into a raft and then float themselves down river in a flood. You need to be aware of where the potential pitfalls are and learn how to avoid them.
While grapes growing can be a rewarding experience, too many people get into it without knowing exactly that it takes a lot of hard work, dedication, patience and a desire to learn how to grow grapes. And this is so sad considering the wealth of information that exists. There are some very good sources online including The Complete Grape Growing System which can give you an essential heads up on grapes growing fundamentals. It is very important that you make full use of the resources that are available to you if you really want to be a success at grapes growing.
Springtime In Your Grape Vineyard
March 7, 2009
It’s spring time again. The birds are singing, the grass is growing, and the work is piling up. Maintaining a grape vineyard is a year round job and there’s always something to do. Exactly how much you have to do depend on where your grape vineyard is located and what variety of grapes you grow. Some are more delicate than others and need more care. There are some common jobs that must be done after setting up any grape vineyard, regardless of these factors and they include the following.
Replace any posts or wires:
The top and base wires in your grape vineyard need to be attached to something and these are normally wooden posts. Since the posts are exposed to the elements, they will crack or rot. You’ll need to walk along each row and test the strength of each of the posts. Shake it yourself, or give it a little tap with a hammer…a little tap. If you swing at full strength you’re likely to break a perfectly good post in half.
Wires are also just as exposed to the weather and can rust and become brittle. You’ll need to examine these as well and make sure that none are sagging or broken. If they are, they may buckle when the vine needs them most. A problem which might be faced when replacing wires in the grape vineyard is the high potential for damaging the vines. Be careful and attempt only a little piece at a time. Never try to replace the lower and higher wires in a single row at the same time as you’ll have nothing to support the grape vines.
Tie any loose vines:
A somewhat tedious task that most grape farmers will tackle in spring is the tying of vines to the wires. This is when you go through your grape vineyard and ensure that there are no loose vines. After trimming, it’s easy for vines to sometimes come loose and if this happens, they won’t be able to hold the weight of any grape bunches they produce. That’s why you need to make certain that they stay secure.
It’s best to take a systematic approach to this. Walk through each row of the grape vineyard, one at a time, and tie any loose vines to either the high or low wire depending on which is more applicable. An easy way of doing this is using wire twist ties. It’s a good idea to walk around with a pouch of these so they’re easily accessible. You’ll want to take care to not damage any of the grape forming buds while you’re tying. These are in sharp contrast to the smoothness of the vines in that they appear as small bumps along the surface.
Start up the lawn mower:
Another task that will undoubtedly take up a lot of your time in spring is mowing your grape vineyard. There’s not likely to be a lot of growth in winter. The change of the season however brings about a raise in temperature, an increased availability of moisture and a lot more sunshine. It’s not only your grape plants that are going to appreciate this. Grape farmers often see a fair amount of grasses and weeds popping up in their grape vineyard at this time of the year.
These other plants also use the same nutrients and resources that your grape plants do, and there’s only a finite amount of these things in your grape vineyard. That’s why it’s so important that you mow on time. This controls the growth of the any other plants that may show up in your grape vineyard. Keep in mind that this isn’t a task you do only once. You’re going to have to keep at it throughout spring and summer as well. It might be a pain, but it’s necessary.
After you have learnt how to grow grapes then the spring time maintenance can be an enjoyable activity that gets you out into the vineyard.
Summer Care for Your Grape Plants
March 7, 2009
Taking care of grape plants involves a lot of hard work and dedication, but no one ever said that the good things in life come easy. There is a sense of pride that’s associated with looking at your grape plants and knowing that they’re healthy and productive. This is something that grape farmers know all too well and theirs is a labor of love in the hope that their grape plants will reward them with the sweetest fruit.
There are specific tasks to do in each season and knowing what these are will go a long way in growing strong grape plants. In spring, grape farmers will typically do things such as tying the grape vines to wires to control growth, replacing worn posts and mowing between the rows. The latter is done to ensure space to move about freely as preparation for the blossoming grape vines and fruit. The amount of rest time between the spring and summer seasons depend on the area in which the grape plants are grown. Most times you’ll have a few weeks before you need to start concentrating on those summer chores.
There are two main tasks that you’ll be faced with in summer, one of which is to start new growth. Some grape farmers choose to do this in spring, and you can as well, but you’ll often have more than enough tasks on your hands and you can put it off until summer. The older a grape plant is, the less it will produce. Very old vines may stop producing altogether and end up very brittle, with few younger vines spreading from the base. In order to keep your vineyard, or backyard garden, productive you’ll need to replace these as soon as you see them starting to wear themselves out. Knowing how to do this properly is important when learing how to grow grapes.
It’s not that hard and you don’t have to go out to nursery to buy new grape plants. At the start of summer, you should see smaller vines growing in between the more established ones. What you’ll need to do is tie one end of a string around the top of the small vine and the other end to the top wire of the grape row. You don’t want to do this too tightly since you can damage the delicate vine. Eventually, the baby vine will grow into a thriving adult.
If, by chance, you’re not seeing any smaller vines shooting up then you’re in real trouble. Just kidding. You do have the option of burying one of the older vines that has started producing less fruit. Of course it must still be connected to the original base vine. You can stretch this out, ensuring that it is in contact with the ground, and cover it in the dirt. Leave a length open at the end. You’re going to attach this part of the grape plant to the top wire via a string. What will eventually happen is that this vine with grow more sturdy with time and eventually become a stable base vine itself.
The other summertime task you’ll be charged with is removing any other plants which may compete with your grape plants for valuable nutrients. This includes any weeds, brush and extra grape seedlings. Of course, if you happen to run your own nursery as well, you’ll have a great idea for what to do with the seedlings. Competition for resources can end up affecting both the quantity and quality of your grape harvest so it’s very important that you deal with it promptly.
If you have a lot of time on your hands, and a small number of grape plants, you might be able to get away with removing any competition by hand, either by clipping them or pulling them out by hand. You do have the option to use herbicides, and pesticides, but you’ll need to make sure that you protect any young grape plants as the chemicals can kill them. Some grape farmers can’t fathom the thought of exposing their fruit to anything even vaguely toxic. The choice is up to you.
History of Napa Valley Vineyards
March 7, 2009
Anyone who is familiar with the world of wine would have heard of Napa Valley vineyards. Napa Valley is not only considered to be the premier wine producing are in California but also in the whole of the United States. Napa Valley vineyards have a rich history dating as far back as the nineteenth century. Today, the area is known for such grape varieties as Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Napa Valley vineyards now number in the hundreds and pull an estimated 5 million visitors every year.
The Native Americans who first inhabited the Napa region were well aware of how bountiful the area is. They would have been surrounded by animals such as grizzlies, elk and wildcats, not the mention the plentiful salmon in the waterways. Also in abundance were wild grapes, which may have been a food source but certainly the concept of wine making had not arrived as yet. It took an early settler to establish the first of the Napa Valley vineyards.
The name of this settler was George Calvert Yount. In 1836 Yount built the first local homestead in what is now known as Yountville. He was the one who planted the first vineyard in the Napa Valley. Of course, his planting was more for recreational purposes and he wasn’t solely responsible for the rise of the Napa Valley vineyards. There were others who popularized the concepts including: John Patchett, the planter of the first commercial vineyard in the area; Dr. George Crane, who wrote several newspaper articles promoting the planting of grape vines; and Hamilton Walker Crabb, who conducted experiments on over 400 grape varieties.
Establishing the Napa Valley vineyards was one thing, but grapes can be put to many uses. It wasn’t until a guy by the name of Charles Krug established the first commercial winery in 1861 that wine making really took off. By 1889 there were over 140 operational wineries including the well known Beringer and Schramsberg. As with anything in its exciting new stages though, the wine industry fell into trouble. There were just too many Napa Valley vineyards and a surplus of grapes sent prices plummeting. Adding to the problem was the subsequent arrival of the phylloxera pest which attacked many vineyards.
One of the biggest crises to hit the Napa Valley wine industry was the advent of Prohibition in 1920. Obviously is alcohol is outlawed, the places making said alcohol would be hardest hit. Many Napa Valley vineyards were forced to go out of business. The repeal of the Prohibition in 1933 was heralded with much joy and was seen as a proverbial new dawn for the wine making industry.
Things have changed and become a bit more organized since the 1940’s. That’s because it was around this time that a group of vintners decided to come together for the purpose of sharing ideas and advice. This group formed the basis of the Napa Valley Vintners, a vibrant organization dedicated to promoting Napa Valley wines globally. In 1975, the growers joined in and formed the Napa Valley Grape Growers Association.
A very special tradition for Napa Valley vineyards started in 1981 when the Napa Valley Vinters sponsored the first Napa Valley Wine Auction. The affair was held at the prestigious Meadowood resort and was a huge success. Since then the event has become on of the world’s most successful charity wine event and has led to the donation of over $85 million to local housing, youth and health care initiatives.
Today, there are a record number of Napa Valley vineyards. Vintners are growers are always improving on techniques and much research is being done to refine both the growing and wine making processes. This push towards progress will ensure that Napa Valley stays on the wine making map for a long time to come.
What You Need To Know To Buy Grape Vines
March 7, 2009
Well, you’ve decided to finally give in to your life’s ambition of growing grapes in your backyard. That’s great. Tons of people around the world have realized the joys of raising their own grape vines. Sure, it’s a lot of work, but how many good things in life aren’t? You just have to know how to do it right. What this means is that you don’t just drive down to the local nursery and buy grape vines just because that type happens to be cheap. There’s a bit more to it than that.
Ever heard anyone say that a cake is only as good as the ingredients you put into it? Well maybe not, but the principle remains the same. The final product of grape growing, the grapes, will only be of a high quality if your starting material is good. And what is your starting material? Why your grape cuttings of course. If you don’t buy grape vines that are superior in every way, you can be certain that you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage. You can buy grape vines at your local nursery, and they’ll no doubt be able to advise you, but you really should have some idea of what to look for before you even set foot through the door.
If you plan to buy grape vines as open cutting, here’s what you need to know:
Most grape cuttings are grafted. This is one way of ensuring that the characteristics of a particular type are retained. Since this is essentially a joint, you need to make sure that you only buy grape vines in which the graft union is properly healed. Why? Well this is more or less the most fragile part of the plant and if it isn’t healed then it will have a tendency to break. Also, open spaces can allow moisture to accumulate and this can bring about rotting. Test the vine by applying some pressure…not too much though or you’ll damage the thing whether it’s healthy or not.
The roots are also important when you’re ready to buy grape vines. You need to check them carefully for any signs of injury. Actually you need to check all parts of the vine for damage, including the bark. You also need to make certain that the roots are well developed or they’re not going to be proper anchors. If you see roots sprouting from the graft union you may be tempted to put the plant back. That’s up to you. These vines will grow but you’ll need to do a little extra work and cut all the extra roots off before you actually put the plant in the ground.
If you want to buy grape vines which are for sale in a planting bag, you won’t be able to check these things quite as easily. Of course, you’ll also have some of the work already done for you so you make choose to go this route. Since the vine is in a bag, you’re not going to be able to see the roots as well. It is therefore crucial that you check the canes from the previous year to ensure that they are well developed. One important point to note is that grape vines sold in this manner already have a root ball and you must keep this intact when planting.
You don’t need to be scared when looking at grape vines for sale. Most of the time the people doing the selling know a great deal about grape growing and are willing to give you the advice you need. Don’t rely solely on them though. You need to do some preparation for yourself. You can supplement your knowledge with great downloadable books such as The Complete Grape Growing System.
Easy Mistakes When Growing Table Grapes
March 7, 2009
Have you been trying your hand at growing table grapes with no luck whatsoever? Well, don’t worry. You’re amongst friends here. Everyone goes through the same thing at first so you’re definitely not alone. The biggest mistake you can make is not fully understanding the delicate nature of what you’re trying to grow. There are three main stumbling blocks that you’re likely to come up against and if you know what they are, you can take steps to overcome them.
The first is being unaware of what variety you’re growing and what its special needs are. Each variety is different and needs very specific conditions under which to grow properly. This includes the soil type, amount of sunlight and moisture. Not knowing which type of grapes grow best in your area is a novice mistake. By far the most common table grape type you’ll encounter, especially if you live in the Eastern United States, is the Concord grape.
Concord grapes tend to have a drooping pattern of growth while other varieties exhibit a more upright disposition. This means that each vine will have to be trained differently in order to maximize the natural sunlight of the area. This is a critical factor when growing table grapes and is often overlooked. Vines of different varieties also show varying growth rates and vigor. Planting high vigor vines too close together can be catastrophic when they really start to extend.
You also need to take into consideration the ripening habits of the diverse varieties. Some vine types ripen early and are better off grown in areas where there is a short growing season. Others take a lot longer and may need in excess of 5 months for proper ripening. And then of course there are all the other types in between. If you’re not sure which variety is best for you, ask around at your local nursery.
Once you have your appropriate variety in hand and you have a thriving plant, don’t be lazy. A big mistake that people make when growing table grapes is leaving them to grow whichever way they wish. In this case, the plant does not know best. If it’s allowed to become a tangled mess, it will only negatively affect the quality of the grapes. Not only that but the overly shaded conditions brought about by uncontrolled growth can create a haven for insects and diseases which can kill your vine. Pruning is essential to maintain the health of your grape plants.
Another error that is commonly made when growing table grapes is harvesting too early. It’s easy to think that the grapes are ripe as soon as you start seeing the color change. After all, this is true for many other fruits. Not so for grapes though. They are a little different in that they need to get to the right sugar content before they can be considered to be ripe. A good idea is buying a refractometer. These handy little gadgets will help you estimate when the sugar content is between 16 – 18%, the best time to harvest table grapes
If you’re growing table grapes for wine though, you may want to reconsider that particular strategy. Most table grapes don’t have a sugar content that’s high enough for wine making. They also tend to have a low acid content which makes them great for eating but doesn’t help to balance the wine. Wine grapes, by and large, tend to be a little smaller and have more seeds.