Growing Grapes 3-5-10
(949) 830-5653
www.lagunahillsnursery.com
Grapes are native to all continents in the Northern Hemisphere. There are 2 types of major importance.
The European grapes (Vitis vinifera) are most
familiar. Most commercial table and wine
grapes are European. Most European grape
varieties perform better in inland
The American grape (Vitis lambrusca) originated in
the
The hybrid grapes are American
grapes that have been bred with other species (usually European). Hybrid grapes often combine characteristics
of both parents. In coastal
We offer grapes grown on their own roots. Many commercial vineyards acquire grafted
plants that use a rootstock that is tolerant of Phylloxera (an insect that
infects roots) however the
Table
Varieties:
Canadice (Hybrid) Seedless medium size,
round berry with red blushed skin. Rich
vinious flavor of very good quality.
Good for table, juice, jelly, wine and raisins.
Flame (European) Seedless medium size berry with red skin and
firm, crispy flesh of very good quality.
Good for table and raisins.
Ripens mid-summer. More reliable
when grown well away from the coast.
This is a very popular commercial variety.
Lakemont (Hybrid) Seedless, medium size fruit similar to
Thompson Seedless (its parent) with a milder flavor. Unlike Thompson Seedless this variety
performs well locally with no mildew.
Suffolk Red (Hybrid
Russian/American) Seedless, large berry
with a bright red blush. This has been
the taste test winner of the Hybrid grapes.
So far we have seen no mildew.
This fairly new introduction is available in limited quantities.
Venus
(Hybrid) Seedless medium size berry with
nearly black skin. The skin is slightly
tough. The clusters are unusually tight. Incredibly productive even when grown in part
sun. Very good for table or wine. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Cabernet Sauvignon Red wine.
Small, round seedy berry with black skin that ripens late. Best in cool summer climates. Except for susceptibility to Powdery Mildew
disease it is relatively easy-to-grow.
Adaptable to most soils, but ripens earlier on gravely soils.
Chardonnay White burgundy wine and the most
popular in
Merlot Red wine.
Medium size, round berry with bluish-black skin. Best in cool summer climates. Prefers clay, chalky or limestone soils.
Pinot Noir
Zinfandel Red wine.
Medium size, round berry with purple to black skin in large, tight
bunches. Ripens fairly early. Vigorous vine. Excellent for cool or warm climates.
American & Hybrid grapes can be grown anywhere they can receive at least half sun. A full day of sun will result in larger clusters and better flavor and sweetness, however I am continually amazed at the excellent production of many of these varieties under marginal conditions.
European grapes have to be located where there is excellent air circulation, or where they can be easily treated for Powdery Mildew disease. Give European grapes at least a half-day of sun, but most do best with a full day. Many vineyards have a rose garden nearby because during the year roses tend to show symptoms of Powdery Mildew 2 weeks before the grapes are affected.
Grapes require a well-drained soil. The soil type can be anything from gravel to clay, but drainage is a must. As with any other plant we do not recommend incorporation of organic matter into the soil. We do recommend mulching the surface with organic matter to provide insulation and nutrition. Drainage can be improved by raising the planter and/or incorporation of pumice, perlite, decomposed granite or sand. Raised beds are most beneficial.
Grape plants prefer average to
ample moisture. Moisture stress during
bloom can cause poor fruit set. Lack of
water will lead to undersize fruit.
Inconsistent watering can cause fruit to split. Drip or trickle irrigation is widely used in
Wine grapes are often grown under mild moisture stress to produce smaller fruit with a higher sugar ratio and higher acidity. This may be difficult to achieve in a home garden if plants in the surrounding areas require more irrigation.
Grapes do not require much fertilizer. Excessive feeding results in rampant growth at the expense of fruit quality and quantity. We recommend organic fertilizers.
Powdery Mildew can cause total crop failure on most European grapes but rarely affects American or Hybrid varieties. Powdery mildew is a surface fungal infection that affects both foliage and fruit. If not controlled the skin of the berries will crack before harvest. Organic products include various horticultural oils and plant oils applied as a spray repeated weekly during mildew weather. Mildew is promoted by our typical early-May through mid-July gloomy weather. (Iceberg roses planted nearby will pick up Powdery Mildew in spring about 2 week before the grapes.) Sulfur dust is also an effective treatment.
Pierce’s Disease is the most serious local disease that you may or may not encounter. It was originally called Anaheim Disease after it destroyed the Anaheim Colony vineyards in the 1870’s. Most European grapes are affected. Some American and some hybrids have shown tolerance. This bacterial infection is spread primarily by insects called sharpshooters. So far I haven’t seen literature suggesting that pruning tools can cause infection, but I would think it possible. The sharpshooter sucks sap out of the stem causing an infection that severely limits the flow of sap beyond that point. The infection spreads quickly upwards and more slowly down the stem. The foliage on the stem gets a scorched look. Either the leaf’s edge or sections of the leaf turn yellow or red with scorched edges. Any developing fruit shrivels and the following years the growth on the affected branch is underdeveloped or fails altogether.
Cutting off infected branches before the infection spreads is the only way to cure a grape plant. Badly infected plants should be removed. There is no treatment that can cure the infected portion. Treating surrounding vegetation for Sharpshooter insects can help. The main problem with Pierce’s Disease is that it can infect many plants other than grapes, but have no outward symptoms.
Generally grapes are excellent producers and without any training will produce a bumper crop. The reasons for training grapes are to limit the size of the vine, lower the cost of maintenance, improve the quality of the grape, and control the harvest period. Around the World there are probably over a hundred named training methods. Vineyards often use different systems for different varieties or different climates. In inland areas foliage cover is essential for preventing sunburn on the fruit. In coastal areas it is important to have less foliage cover for better air circulation. The goal is to have the clusters of fruit covered by 1-1/2 layers of leaves. If the production branches are covered too deeply there is insufficient light to get quality or sustain production. Here I will list the most common methods.
Illustrations
have been reproduced with permission by The Fruit Growers News
On farms there is a set distance between rows (3-12 feet) and plants (3-8 feet). In experiments the harvest volume went up as the distance between rows decreased, however, the spacing of plants along the row made little difference. Of course small distances between rows makes maintenance more difficult. The size of farm equipment usually dictates the distance between rows. There are some vineyards that use overhead trellises that cover the entire plot.
The table grapes in my own yard have no set design. Four vines are growing on small trellises, one is on a wrought iron fence, and two others are on top of our patio lattice. All produce more than we can eat.
Winter Pruning
Grapes produce fruit on branches growing off of year old wood. This means you must save some of last year’s growth to have fruit this year. Grapes will produce fruit without pruning. Proper winter pruning will create a more uniform, high quality crop. There are several ways of doing this.
Outline
Grapes native to N
hemisphere
1.
European
2.
American
3.
Hybrids with
American
Varieties recommended for
coastal
Location
Sun exposure
Air circulation
Rose Garden
Soil
Well-drained clay to gravel
Ample to average moisture highly important to table
Carefully controlled moisture stress important to wine
grapes
Fertilizer
Disease management
Powdery Mildew-begin treatment 2 weeks after roses
Pierce’s
Shaping the Vine
Goals-highest production without losing too much quality
1. Foliage cover 1-1.5 layers thick
2. good air circulation
3. ease of harvest and maintenance
4. Sustainable production
Most
common methods
1. Heading
2. single fruit zone
3. divided fruit zone vertically or horizontally
Distance
between rows 3-12’
Distance
between plants 3-8’
Direction
of the rows N-S,
Winter pruning
1. Spur
2. Cane
3. none
4. alternate years
Vitis
vinifera
Native
to around the
Cultivated
by man and brought to
Established
across the
Romans
refined grape growing and wine making techniques. Used them primarily as sweeteners.
After
collapse of Roman civilization 400 AD the church kept viticulture alive and
refined wine making.
Welch
1869 invented unfermented grape juice using pasteurization process.
1860
Vitis vinifera nearly disappeared due to Phylloxera on roots of vines in
Average
production of table grapes 8-12 tons per acre (0.5 lbs per sq. ft.)
50+%
wine
36% raisin
13%
table