Grape Vines Have Needs Too
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.