Growing Grapes in Your Backyard

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If you have a sunny space, try your hand at growing grapes!

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Photo by Pixabay
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Have you always wanted to have grapes in your backyard? Or, do you have an old grapevine that has grown completely out of control?

There are several things to consider if this is the case—not every location is actually ideal for the growing of grapes:

First of all, grapes need to be in the Sun all day long. They will not grow well if they are in the shade for all or a good part of the day. Wet areas are also not favored by this crop. Grapes do NOT like to have wet feet; they actually can reach down quite far into the ground for their water.

Up next to a building or surrounded by trees (where the breezes don’t blow) are also not good spots. Breezes cut down on potential funguses that can invade grape vines. And a wild grape vine growing in a tree has no hope for actually producing grapes.

If you happen to have a sunny location and you inherit an overgrown tangle; here’s what you do.

  • First, you give the plant a blast of nitrogen to push up the leaves.
  • Then, you trim the vines back to the three best trunks. It’s good to wait until you can see the buds in order to be sure which vines are still alive.
  • A bamboo or steel post, 7 feet tall and sunk one foot into the ground is needed to support them. Wind the vines around it tying them with loose bread bag ties. There will be no grapes the first year, but they will regain their strength for the future.

  • If you are looking to create a patch of grape vines, get the soil analyzed. These fruits need a balanced soil.
  • Find a variety that grows well in your area (check out Double A Vineyard for free information).
  • Put in your posts then insert some kind of post wires going across.

Ideally, these are placed one at 30” and one at 36.” Those are your two “fruiting wires” where you loosely wind your four “keeper” canes around. When you chose your four “keeper” canes, try to pick four closest to the trunk, and leave 4 to 6 two to three bud “renewals” near the trunk also. Place two “catch wires” at four feet, five feet and six feet so you have a place to tuck in the new growth. These will be your “fruiting canes” next year. At first, you will be looking to spread out about 30 buds total but in later years (especially for commercial applications) 45 buds is common.

Just remember that the further the vines are from the trunk, the flavor diminishes. This is why the best person in a winery situation to be growing the grapes is the wine maker him or herself.

  • When the grapes get to look like green peas, it’s time to take off the leaves over the fruit. The Sun will help to keep problems away. Also keep the area under the grapes weed-whacked so that rain doesn’t splash up on the plants.

Virginia Carter from Walpole Mountain View Winery was kind enough to help me with this blog. Check out her photos at www.bhvineyard.com.  She will be starting her summer wine-tastings  May 24 through May 27. Beautiful views, delicious reds, whites and varietals await your presence at this exquisite spot.

                           (photo credit: Virginia Carter)                                                                                                   (2012 vintage ready to bottle)

And, just because…. Some enterprising birds found the cotton ties that I use for my tomatoes and incorporated them into their nest.

About The Author

Celeste Longacre

Celeste is The Old Farmer's Almanac astrologer. She has also been growing virtually all of her family’s vegetables for the entire year for over 30 years. Read More from Celeste Longacre