GRAPES - Vitis vinifera In the home garden

GAYE WILLIAMSON Garden guru

The grapes are laden at mine and they need covering before the birds devour them – often in an overnight feeding frenzy.

I use to have four assorted vines, but last winter I removed three of them.

My reasoning, how many grapes can one person eat and three were now being shaded by other fruit trees, that I wanted to keep. Grape time is recorded in gardening books as February to May. They are described as half hardy to hardy.

They can withstand severe winter temperatures in their dormant winter state, but early spring at bud burst, they can only tolerate -1 degree frosts. As growing progresses, the flowers and young fruitlets make them even more susceptible and .5 degree frosts is all they may accept, before damage ensues.

Grapes can be described as either sitting in the black or white categories.

Black includes red, red/purple, purple and blue/black grapes. White can include green, amber and an almost translucent amber colour.

Their fruits can be different shapes, often said to be round, egg shaped or oblong. The taste, scent and flavour of the

GARDENING grape depends on where they are grown. Grapes are sensitive to both soil and climate. The time the fruit takes to ripen also has a bearing on the flavour.

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They can take two years to get going, but then you should harvest 3-6 kg’s of fruit off one vine. If given optimum conditions, your harvest could be 12 kg’s per vine.

Conditions

Grapevines are long lived and deep rooted.

They like well aerated and free draining soil.

They prefer not to have an oversupply of nutrients, especially nitrogen.

Run them mean and lean.

They like full light and a warm, wind protected position.

PRUNING

There are two types:

Spur pruned vines bear fruit on short 2-3 budded spurs. or

Cane fruiting where fruit is produced on 2-4 canes made from the previous seasons growth. This winter pruning is very important.

Summer pruning can just be where the fruit carrying laterals are ‘stopped’ and the leaves shading the bunches are clipped away, so air and light can reach the fruit.

PESTS AND DISEASES

These are usually dependant on growing conditions and weather. Botrytis (grey mould), downy mildew or collar rot can occur in moist conditions.

Powdery mildew may appear in dry climates.

Insects can include aphids, hoppers, beetles, weevils and caterpillars.

In 20 years I have seen none of these critters.

Wasps can be a problem attacking ripening fruit. Set a simple trap.

Pour a sugar syrup into the bottom of a bottle. They will be attracted to the syrupy sugar smell, fly in - but be unable to fly out. Discourage wasps by removing overripe grapes.

TYPES OF GRAPES

Grafted and cutting grown grapes are usually available from garden centres in winter.

Grafted plants are the more vigorous of the two with their virus free phylloxera resistant rootstock.

They are also able to cope with soggy soils.

Cutting grown grapes may be cheaper but are less vigorous. Grow your own grapes from winter trimmings.

Use a pencil thick trimming. Pick grapes when they are fully ripe as they will not develop further sugar after harvest.

Me – I am off to cover up, as I read that grapes are the oldest fruit know to humans, so worth some attention.