The vine of the grape (Vitis vinifera) is a generous one. It can be trained to grow on a trellis or pergola to provide shade in the summer, and it produces edible fruit and leaves in the early spring that are used in cooking. The changing colors of the leaves as they begin to fall also add to the beauty of the season. To make stuffed vine leaves or dolmades, Greek and Italian cooks and gardeners cultivate grapevines for their leaves. You may not be familiar with this appetizer; it is stuffed vine leaves that have been marinated in olive oil and lemon juice and served with yogurt. The filling includes rice, onion, herbs, spices, and pine nuts.
The First Steps
Grapevines are now propagated through cuttings rather than seeds because cuttings provide a quicker start. In the spring and summer, grapevines can be purchased from nurseries in pots, while in the winter, they can be purchased bare-rooted. Sultana, Black and White Muscat, Waltham Cross, and Flame Seedless are some of the cultivars commonly available to home gardeners.
In the end, you can always start your own vine from a cutting rather than grafting it onto an existing vine. A 10–15cm long leafless stem with two or three nodes should be pruned in the winter. Plant each cutting in a pot of coarse sand or propagating mix in the early spring, and it will harden off and form roots and new growth before you can plant it where you want it to grow.
Instructions for Growing Grapevines
A sunny, well-drained location is ideal for planting and a good shovelful of compost should be dug in at planting time. After digging a hole large enough to allow for root growth, press the soil and compost around the hole to remove any air holes. Make sure that the graft union is at least 10cm above the soil surface when planting a grafted vine.
For best results, fertilize the new vine in the early spring and then again in the spring and summer of the following year. Drip irrigation is an effective and efficient way to supply water to grapevines, which are well-adapted to dry conditions. Watering from above can cause fungal problems like mildew on leaves and rotting fruit, so this is preferable. During the months of September to January, the trees receive regular watering, which is then discontinued once the fruit has been harvested.
Taking Good Care of
It’s best to remove all of the vine’s branches in winter in order to ensure that the grapevines will bear fruit on this year’s wood. It’s possible to pick a few fruits in the first year of growth, but by the third or fourth year, the harvest will be in full force.
In order to thrive, grapevines require a sunny location and can handle most soils, but prefer those with a high pH. As long as the soil is well-drained, they don’t mind chalky or limey soils.
Grape cultivars dictate the pruning method. Remove the majority of your Sultana grapes’ stems, but leave two to four canes unpruned so you can twist and secure them to a wire. Pruning is done by cutting everything back hard to the main plant framework or spurs or permanent buds on most grapevine types, so new growth occurs and fruit is produced.
Powdery mildew, which can harm leaves and fruit, is the most common fungus attack on grapevines. When the vines are dormant and just about to flower, the best time to apply a Bordeaux spray is right before the buds open. Spray again later in the season if the weather becomes humid, as humidity affects the production of fruits and vegetables. As a result, remember to thoroughly rinse vine leaves before using them in cooking.
A pergola or wire strand can be used to train a vigorous grapevine, which will result in a lovely outdoor setting.
How to Keep Grapes Safe
As the fruit on the vine reaches ripeness, it is essential to safeguard it. A few people are opposed to using nets because of the risk of entanglement to the area’s native bats and birds. Covering these ferocious growers with nets is also a pain. Agricultural waxed-paper fruit bags with a twist-tie are available for purchase. The waxed bags are ideal for humid climates because they keep the fruit dry. The bag has a small drainage hole at the bottom, but fruit flies cannot get in or affect the bag’s functionality in any way.
