Who would have thought that grapes can be grown from your very own backyard? More commonly, grapes are grown in rows of grapevines stretched across extensive vineyards. Home-growing seems to be a far-fetched idea mainly because backyards and gardens have extremely limited space. But even with 16 by 16 feet of garden space - which is roughly 53 square meters - you can already grow as many as four grape vines. And each grape vine could yield up to 40 pounds of grapes hence equating to a monstrous weight of 120 pounds with only four grape vines. Below is a quick guide on how to grow grapes at home.
Above everything else, the very first thing that you should look into as a hopeful home-grower is the climate conditions in your area. Most grape breeds are only well-adapted to warm, humid climates. When exposed to even the slightest cold, these grape varieties are more likely to be destroyed. If the temperature in your region frequently drops below 10°F, growing grapes at your home is not a feasible idea. But if you get enough sun from spring through the fall, then it is possible to grow grapes even with a cold winter.
If winter comes early in your location, the trick is to grow hardy varieties that can go dormant in the winter and produce grapes in a short growing season. Samples of table grapes that flourish in cold climates include Reliance, Somerset Seedless, and Trollhaugen. Landot Noir, Swenson Red, and St. Croix are a few red wine grapes that can stand the cold. Frontenac Gris, Swenson White, and LaCrescent are among the white wine grapes that manage to thrive even in a cold climate. In general though, grapevines enjoy the heat of the sun so even these varieties need their sunlight.
Next, you also might want to check on your soil because you have to prepare it before you can do any planting. Remove anything that could get in the way of growth and the exposure of your grapevines to the sun. This includes plants, weeds, trees, and shrubs. After setting aside a space that will be enough to accommodate the number of grape vines you plan to grow, closely assess the soil for its quality. Preferably, soil for growing grapes should be the loamy or sandy type because of their mineral content is healthy for the grape vines.
Aside from the type of soil you have in your garden, you also have to make sure that the soil drains well - this means that when the soil is watered, water easily seeps through it and does not pool or accumulate. Pooling of water in your soil is detrimental to the health of your grapevines. The acidity of your garden soil must not be neglected as well. Depending on the variety, grape breeds may prefer a soil pH acidity of 5.0 to 6.5. Use tools to check the soil acidity. These can be bought from local gardening stores.
Loosen up the soil to make digging easier. Holes that are to be made should be wide and deep enough to accommodate the roots of the grape seedlings that you purchased or prepared years before. When the holes have been dug, lightly dampen the soil and roots of the grapevines. Then you can continue with planting. After planting, water them as much as they need it but decrease the watering frequency when the grapes come out.
As part of ensuring that your home-grown grapevines produce high-quality grapes in large amounts, prune your grapes beginning the second year after planting. Pruning will train the grape vines to grow in the way that you want them to, thereby maximizing the distribution of nutrients throughout the plant and making them more resistant to pests.
Learning how to grow grapes at home is easy when equipped with the right resources. As soon as you have learned it, you will be converting your backyard into a mini-vineyard and gather fresh grapes for your family's consumption.
Renee Mitterand is a grape growing expert. For more information on how to grow grapes at home visit http://www.GrapeGrowingFun.com
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