Three Stumbling Blocks to Growing Grapes in the Backyard

Are you one of those home gardeners that don't know the threestumbling blocks to successfully growing grapes in your backyard?Don't worry, you're not alone.

I have grown grapes successfully under the worst of conditionssince 1975 and I can tell you that most of the problems gardenersencounter are because they don't understand the nature of thebeast that they are growing. So let's look at the problems that Isee when people, like you, have me come and analyze what problemsthey are having growing the backyard grapevine.

The first problem I see is that gardeners want to grow somegrapes but they are unaware of the variety they are growing andits growth habit. This leads to many problems from the get go.Each variety has to be treated as an individual. The most commonvarieties in local nurseries are either Concord types or theEuropean vinifera grape. It all depends on whether you live Eastor West of the Rockies. In the East, Concord types are common.In the West, especially along the Pacific Coast, you will findthe vinifera varieties. Each distinct type have differing growthhabits and this influences what you will have to do to maintainthem.

Concord types have a more drooping habit of growth. Viniferatypes are more upward in their growth habit. What does thismean? It means that each type has to be trained differentlybecause they grow differently. Because the Concord types droop,they must be trained high and allowed to droop downward duringthe growing season. The vinifera types must be trained low andallowed to grow upward. This takes advantage of the naturalgrowth habit and maximizes the sunlight into the leaves to getthe best ripening conditions and yield of grapes.

Each variety varies in how vigorous the growth is. This traitdetermines the distance between vines when planted. Low vigorvines must be planted closer while high vigor vines need morespace. You don't want high vigor vines planted close as theywill run into each other and be hard to maintain over the years.Conversely, low vigor vines planted farther apart will leave gapsof space that will never be filled and you will lose yieldbecause of this.

Gardeners must also be aware of the ripening habits of thevariety. Some varieties ripen early and are grown in areas wherethe growing season is short. Others need much more time tomature. These are late varieties and will need up to 170 days ormore to ripen. Then there are those that are inbetween. Youhave to select the varieties that are adapted to your growingconditions. Your local nurseryman should be able to help you outthere.

One last thing when considering varieties is whether you want toeat them or make wine. Table grapes are to be eaten and winegrapes obviously are to make wine from. The two types aredistinct and you can't make wine from most table grapes as theydon't get high enough in sugar content and the acids are too lowto balance the wine. While wine grapes are small berried andseedy, not suited for eating.

The second big problem I see is that the vines are a tangledmess. Vines need maximum exposure to the sun to be able to ripenthe grapes. When they are allowed to grow out of control, thevine leaves begin to shade the vine and this allows for diseaseand insects to set in (some varieties will need sprayingthroughout the growing season for disease and insect control),and for less than optimal conditions for ripening the fruitproperly. Vines must be pruned properly each year for maximumfruitfulness and health.

Pruning means removing 75-90% of the previous year's growth. Thisseems drastic but it maintains the health and vigor of the vine.It also means the maximum production of fruit and the bestripening conditions. You can't ignore pruning the vine eachspring. It is a must! There are various styles of pruning.These are dependent on the variety and its growth habit. Somevarieties are pruned long and some require short "spur" pruning.

Long pruned vines are not fruitful in the bottom, (basal buds).The maximum fruitfulness on these vines comes from the middlebuds on the canes from last year's growth. Varieties that bearfruit from the bottom, basal buds are spur pruned. Pruning is anart in itself and comes out of a knowledge of how the vine grows.But if not done, the vine will be shaded, get diseased, andoverbear, thus weakening the vine. Not pruning will lead tolowered yields and improper ripening. It can also lead to thedeath of the vine over time. This is especially true in areaswith winters. Pruning will instill more winter hardiness becauseof healthy growing conditions.

Harvesting too early is the last major problem I see frombackyard gardeners. People seem to think that as soon as thegrapes begin to color that they are ripe. This can be far fromthe truth. Coloring, known as verasion, occurs weeks before thegrapes are actually ripe. Grapes need to attain a good sugarcontent and acid balance before they can be harvested. Manypeople harvest their grapes before they have reached this pointand are disappointed in the taste or the wine made from thesegrapes.

Here again, varieties differ in when they are ripe. It is bestto use simple qualitative analysis to determine ripeness. Theeasiest way is to purchase a refractometer to determine the sugarcontent of the berries. Table grapes can be harvested between 16and 18% sugar. Wine grapes usually need a sugar content ofaround 22-24% sugar or more to be harvested and obtain the rightalcohol content of the wine.

Growing grapes in the backyard or garden can be a rewardingexperience if done correctly. If grown haphazardly, the vinescan become overgrown, tangled messes and never ripen properly.Often leading to death of the vine or disappointment at least.You should read as many reference books on the subject as you canbefore starting out to plant your backyard vineyard. The moreyou know about the grapes you are planting the better.

A good list of reference books on growing grapes can be found at:

http://www.ristcanyonvineyards.com/books.html

More information on growing grapes (especially under marginal conditions where grapes are not usually found growing), can be found at Jim's website. Just visit: http://www.ristcanyonvineyards.com