How To Grow Grapes at Home
People often think that to learn grapes how to grow can only be done in large vineyards. These days, there are now many families growing grapes at home who are enjoying the fruits of their labor right in their own backyard. Home grape growers would have to consider the same aspects of tending the vines, just like any large vineyard grower. Tending the vines include choosing the location, preparing the soil, getting enough sunlight, pruning, watering and pest control.
All these activities take time and effort, but for most home grape growers, pruning and pest control are the most challenging tasks. Pruning means cutting away parts of the plant in order to give some room for new growth. The type of grapes that you are tending will determine just how much pruning you have to do. For instance, hybrid grape varieties usually have less leaves than the traditional types of grapevines, so they usually need less pruning. Grapevines have to be pruned in order to remove old canes and spurs.
Since grapes only sprout from healthy canes that are at least one year old, old canes have to be pruned back in order to make room for new canes each year. If pruning is done excessively, this will encourage more shoots on the vine, which can also produce more foliage. This may seem good for the plant, but in reality, the foliage can provide a very shady environment for the grapes, which will not allow it to ripen fast. Pruning should be done manually in order to avoid injury to the plant. A hand pruner may be used to remove year-old shoots, while a handsaw may be used to remove larger wood on the vine. Pest control is another area that takes a lot of the home grape grower’s time. Pests such as insects, birds and deer should be dealt with properly, in order to protect the plants from damage.
Insecticides may be used to protect the plants from small insects, although grape vines can actually stand a little insect damage. However, if big chunks of leaves are being damaged, or if the fruits are threatened, then it becomes necessary to control the insects using insecticides. Birds are often more destructive, especially if they come in flocks. There are many instances when a huge flock of birds can easily take over a crop of grapes. On the other hand, a large flock of birds is easier to control than individual birds. Grape vineyards may be protected from birds by installing a net over them. Before winter starts, this net has to be taken down so that ice will not form on it and damage the plants. Home grape growers can also scare birds using artificial hawks, snakes or owls. As for deer that are attracted by the sweet smell of the vineyards, they can be scared off using human scent, dog hair or even the scent of coyotes.
