Grapevines in my garden

Wouldn’t it be nice if while you are strolling in your garden and feasting your
eyes on the riot of colourful blooms and smelling the heady fragrances
of flowers, you can also reach up in the grapevines to pluck a plump and
juicy fruit still warm from the rays of the morning sun? Growing grapes
in the garden is not as daunting as many people believe.

Growing grapes in the garden

Grapes are normally grown in extensive stretches of vineyards. Rows and
rows of grapevines would stand like sentinels guarding a very vast area.
As such, growing grapes in the garden would appear to be a farfetched
idea. In spite of the limited space grapes can be grown in one’s garden.
Yield from one or two grapevines in the garden may not be enough for
wine making but the grapes would be more than enough for the table. The
home-grown grapes will be made into juice, jams and jellies. More
importantly, the bunch of grapes will be the envy of neighbours. After
all, not everyone can grow grapevines in their garden.

Important considerations in growing grapes

The first thing a home grape grower should do is to consider the kind of
climate in the area. Most grape varieties can adapt well to humid and
warm climate. Growing grapes in your garden would not be a good idea if
the temperature drops below 10°F. The type of soil would not be a big
problem as most grape varieties can adapt to most soil types. The
growing habit of the grape variety must be considered as well as it will
determine the kind of trellis the grapevine will need.

How to grow grapes

Grapes can be grown from seeds or from grape cuttings. Growing grapes
from cutting is proven to be more advisable. Growing grapes in the
garden is kind of easy as this is a low maintenance plant. However,
grape planting is a long term commitment. It would take a few years
before you can taste the fruits of your labor. Decide where you want to
plant the seed or the cutting. Check the soil. Grapevines need a lot of
sunlight thus anything that can obstruct the plant’s exposure to the sun
must be removed. Grapes would grow on any kind of soil but the sandy
and loamy type is more preferable. Plant the cutting in early spring. An
arbor or trellis will be necessary as the growing vines have to be
trained to grow horizontally. The secret to luscious and healthy grapes
is pruning. Pruning must be started the second year after the grape was
planted. Pruning is necessary as it makes the vine grow the correct way
and also improves the quality of the vine making it more resistant to
cold and diseases.

Growing grapevines in the garden is very
rewarding. It would take a while before the first harvest but the
savoring the fruits of your labor is worth the wait.