Grapes

A girl in my neighborhood recently asked me about growing grapes. She wants them to climb over her deck, which rang a bell in my head because I just posted about growing climbing plants on pergolas!

I gave her my usual answer when I've never grown something myself: "I'll look it up!" I love to garden but I don't hesitate to look to experts for advice. It has been a good opportunity for me to learn about grapes and now I'm inspired to grow my own! I can picture a lovely little seating area next to my garden made of a small stone patio with a pergola over it, laden with leafy grapevines and juicy purple fruit in the fall.


The basics to consider when growing grapes are what varieties are best suited to your area, where you want them to grow, and how to prune and care for them. The first place I usually look for information is my Sunset Western Garden book. It is a fabulous reference book for any (western) gardener, including climate zones, descriptions and care for over 8,000 plants, a basic guide to creating and maintaining a healthy garden, and a glossary defining garden terms. It's also chock full of beautiful photographs and drawings. I love it.

According to them, a backyard gardener should be careful not to overdo it. "A single grapevine can produce enough new growth every year to arch over a walk, roof an arbor, form a leafy wall, or provide an umbrella of shade over deck or terrace... Once they are established, grape vines grow rampantly. If all you want is a leafy cover for an arbor or patio, you need only train a strong vine up and over its support and thin out entangling new growth each year." I'm going to tell my friend one--maybe two--vines will serve her well. Unless you have rows of trellises or fencing you don't need more than a few grapevines!

There are some basic categories grapes varieties fall under. European grapes, including most wine grapes, are mostly produced in the Northwest and California. Then there are American grapes, which are more hardy and disease resistant, and can be grown in colder climates. Of course there are also hybrids of the two. For the best varieties for Utah gardens, I checked a favorite resource: Utah Cooperative Extension. They provide a great table with pictures, ripening dates, and uses for each variety. One example is 'Concord', a well-known American variety, which is good for juice, jams, and jellies. It's deep blue-black fruit looks tempting to me, although I also love the color of 'Candice', and it says they are better for fresh eating.

Grape vines are best planted in the spring. Soil amended with compost is ideal. If you are planting more than one vine they should be at least 6' to 10' apart, and holes should be about 12" deep. It is best to plant the vine the same depth as it was grown in the nursery, and then it needs to be trimmed back to 2-3 buds. I know that sounds harsh, but the first summer the vines will grow aggressively and then you will be able to select the sturdiest shoots for training.

Pruning is vital for a good grape crop. The SW garden book says, "The purpose of pruning is to limit the amount of potential fruiting wood to ensure the plant doesn't produce too much fruit and that the fruit it does bear is of good quality." For proper pruning practices, I'm going to refer you to a local expert, Larry Sagers. (He's a horticultural specialist for the Utah State Extension Service. He does a lot of work for Thanksgiving Point, and I've taken many classes from him. He's like the Utah garden guru!) Here's his article: "Careful Grape Pruning Brings Sweet Rewards." Pruning should be done in the winter or early spring before bud swell.

Grapes don't seem to require a lot of care, but I found a helpful article on growing grapes organically. It focuses on light and air and pest prevention.

I can't wait to give grapes a go in my new landscape!