What You Need to Know About Grape Growing

Variety

• Choose grape varieties suited to your climate, and you'll have few problems growing grapes. European varieties don't tolerate cold temperatures and grow best in California. Stick to cold-hardy American hybrids, such as Concord, Niagara and Fredonia, if you live in northern climates. In the south, try sweet table grapes and the small muscadine types, including Scuppernong, Carlos and Cowart. Most grapes are self-pollinating, meaning that you don't need another variety for pollination. However, always read the label before you purchase your grapevine.

Planting Grapes

• Grapes tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions, although they must have full sun and good air circulation. Select a southern slope where the sun will warm and ripen the grapes. Dig one bushel of compost or manure into the soil for each plant, in the fall if possible. Plant the grapes in the early spring, when the soil is soft. Space the vines 6 to 8 feet apart, and choose healthy, one-year-old stock. Water the grapes thoroughly after planting, and water them to keep the soil evenly moist for the first few weeks after planting. Once the grapes are established, water them only during periods of dryness. Spread 1/2 lb. of 10-10-10 fertilizer around each plant each spring.

Pruning and Trellising Grapes

• Grapevines left untended become a tangled, unproductive mess. Train grapevines onto a strong trellis, arbor or fence. Cut back the vine after the first winter, leaving one strong central trunk and two side arms. Tie the arms to the fence or trellis with soft twine. The following year, allow the trunk to grow 12 to 14 more inches. Prune the vine, leaving two more side arms 12 inches above the first. Prune the vines annually when they are dormant to remove old wood and excessive foliage.

Insects and Disease

• Planting grapevines in a sunny location with good air circulation prevents most diseases, but occasionally grapes become infected with black rot, powdery mildew or anthracnose. Remove diseased grapes and leaves, don't give grapes excessive fertilizer and spray the plants with a copper sulfate fungicide if the infections become severe. Remove Japanese beetles by hand, or treat them with milky-spore disease. Treat leafhoppers with insecticidal soap.