Enjoy Grow Grapes at Home

To grow grapes at home is very like growing grapes in a large vineyard. Space is the principal difference. There are several facets to growing healthy grapevines that need to be considered by both large vineyards and the home grower. How we tend the vine is the most crucial consideration. Soil preparation, water, sunlight, pruning and best control are all encompassed in 'tending'. Pruning and pest control are the aspects that the home grower finds the most difficult.



Cutting away unwanted growth by pruning will encourage more growth of the type wanted. Different grape variety need to be pruned in different ways. The copious leaf growth of the traditional varieties is considerably curtailed on the disease resistant hybrids which are also more robust in the winter. Grapevines need to be pruned to remove the previous years fruiting canes or spurs. Shoots on the one year old canes will grow the grapes of the vine. The growth of heathy new canes every year must be encouraged. If too much of the vine is pruned back, more shoots will grow on the vine, which in turn, produces more crop and foliage. The addition in leaf growth is a disadvantage as this will create a shady environment which will not be helpful to the grapes ripening. It is crucial that there are no injuries to the plant during pruning it is necessary that extreme care is taken by the inexperienced grower. Year old shoots can be cut with hand pruners or secateurs. Pruning the heavier thicker shoots should invariably be carried out with a handsaw or lopper.



Time must be spent by the home grape grower dealing with insects, birds and other pests such as deer. Insects love to enjoy a tasty grapevine these will include grape berry moths, leafhoppers, Japenese beetles and rose chafers. Grapevines can endure a small amount of insect damage but an infestation will need to be controlled with insectacides or similar. If a major portion of the leaf canopy or the fruit is threatened should you consider insect control.



Much more destructive are birds. A flock of birds can devastate a crop of grapes but, on the bright side, a large flock of birds is easier to scare away than individual birds. Physical barriers against birds such as nets covering the vines can be placed by home growers. But nets should not stay covering the vines in winter as ice can form on the net and damage the vines. Atificial hawks, owls, snakes and aluminium pie plates can be utilized as visual scares by home grape growers. Odor repellents are something that are very effective when it comes to controlling deer. When the shoots are just appearing in the early spring and food is still scarce home grapevines can be extremely attactive to deer. The odor particularly of humans and dogs will discourage birds, soap has also been known to have a similar effect. Extreme but the scent of coyotes will discourage deer and birds.



Jay is a grape growing enthusiast. For more great information on growing grapes in the backyard, visit http://www.mygrapevinesecrets.com.