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How To Grow Grapes Successfully

by Stan Spencer

To successfully uncover how to grow grapes year after year you need to educate
yourself on grape vines, the weather, plant physiology and more. Growing grapes
combines knowledge of plants, soil, and weather. You will first need to determine
your product. If you want to grow table grapes there are specific vines, wine grapes
are different as well. Grapes used for grape juice, table grapes and wine are all
different species of grape vines. To determine which grapes will grow well you will
need to understand your sites soil and weather.

The grapes that grow in the wild are not suitable for wine. Wild grapes are a
species of grapes known as Vitis labrusca. Wine grapes are from a species called
Vitis vinifera. However Vitis labrusca grapes are important.


If you want to grow wine grapes you will need to obtain grafted plants. There is
a nasty bug found in the soil, called Phylloxera, which kills vinifera vines. However
labrusca vines are resistant to this bug so vinifera vines will be grafted onto
labrusca rootstock. Phylloxera is found everywhere in the world so you will rarely
see any own rooted vinifera vines.

To grow grapes successfully you need to be aware of the climate. Most vitis
vinifera grapes do not like cold weather and if you experience freezing temperatures
over the winter you would do better with French/American hybrids. (Vitis vinifera
are frequently referred to as French grapes and Vitis labrusca vines as American)
there are steps to take to prevent winter damage, such as covering the graft wound
with mulch, not pruning until the spring and more.


The type of soil you want to grow grapes on will also influence your grape choice.
Specific vines and rootstock will do very well in sandy soil while others need loam
and gravel. Some roots have the ability to dig deep into the earth, 20 ft or more
looking for water and irrigation is not needed, while others do no have this ability.
The type of soil will also dictate if any irrigation is needed. Grape vines need
to be in well-drained soil to keep product in check. Also if the soil is too wet
it can kill the vine, think like swampy soil.

Having a balanced vine can be very tricky and require a lot of work. You will
need to determine the type of yield you are after. Table grapes tend to be cropped
heavy, as they do not have as strong of a flavor as wine grapes. Wine vines that
are cropped heavily do not produce desirable flavors and produce inferior wine.
Having a balance between the amount of fruit and the canopy (the canopy are the
canes and leaves) requires some experience. There are many consultants available
that can help you if you are just getting started.