Easy Mistakes When Growing Table Grapes

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.

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