Grape vines

[Adjee]

We used to have an extremely productive but small vineyard at our last location. The grape harvest (three varieties) allowed us to make some lovely wine and juice for drinking. We purchased some potted Muscat vines 18 months ago but have never found the time to plant them and thought they had died. Today we finally managed it, well, twelve of them, all still viable and with new growth on. Still need to find space for the other eighteen but that is a job for tomorrow. Had to fence off the area to prevent the chickens, ducks, geese etc. from getting in and destroying them but the second batch will go outside in the field.

[pseudonym]

A productive day that will lead to some tasty beverages in the future.

[mcprepper]

Sounds great - let us know if you need anyone from the forum to sample the wine …

[kaivatony]

Sounds like a great setup! Muscat is a lovely variety — amazing aroma when they’re ripe. Good on you for salvaging them after 18 months; that’s impressive resilience. Fencing them off is smart with all those curious birds around. I’d love to hear how the second batch does once planted in the field. Have you had issues before with birds or other wildlife going after the grapes?

[pseudonym]

kaivatony, welcome, please make an introductory post as requested in the Forum Rules.

Thank you

[Adjee]

Have you had issues before with birds or other wildlife going after the grapes?

Previously at our last place we never had any issues with birds etc. damaging the vines. The only insect that were an issue, (for my partner) was two species of spider. A lovely coloured one that really is impressive called the Wasp Spider and a small green one that lived in the central parts of the grape groups but unfortunately I never managed to identify it. The issue was she just did not like spiders! Fortunately with our lifestyle that fear has dissipated.

The vines out in the field are sowing signs of life so we shall wait and see if they manage to root as what happens above the surface is irrelevant it is the rooting system that counts.

[Mad Scientist]

Good for you for getting those going! Must admit I’ve tinkered with the idea of growing something like this but not sure how much room we need in the garden for a reasonable batch. Any advice? Thank you.

[Adjee]

Good for you for getting those going! Must admit I’ve tinkered with the idea of growing something like this but not sure how much room we need in the garden for a reasonable batch. Any advice? Thank you.

At our last place most vines were already in place so we just added the varieties we wanted. Here we have just mirrored that with our planting. Not sure on the recommended method but I find for all the research you can do it is irrelevant as with growing things what method works for one does not necessarily work for another.

We planted the vines (grafted vines as they are less prone to disease) @ 5 foot apart with the same distance between each row. Planted in an area that is South facing so they can get as much sunlight as possible (to grow and ripen the grapes). Vines like well drained soil so to get established dig a hole at least three times the vine root system. We then back filled with a mix of small stones, sand, soil, goat and rabbit manure. The main thing is to get the root system growing. Water regularly, we water them during the day and every night when we refresh all the animal/bird water bowls.

They need a good support system (we use concrete posts and wire) for obvious reasons, a lot of people out here grow them up a metal frame work and train the vines across the top forming a canopy for shade that they sit under with the grapes forming bunches that can then be easily harvested. Problem here is the snakes love to live in them when grown like that and you often have to catch and remove them when they hang down from the frame roof. Vines grow rapidly and the you have to keep the growth in check by topping and trimming them back. Remove any fruit in the first year and only allow the main vertical shoot to grow, remove the rest as this will help the root system get established.

Once established cut back in Spring, tie and shape the vine as required when the new growth starts.

Vine leaves make great leaf black bag compost and and we also feed them to our animals so there is no waste when pruning during the growing season.

Many people spray their vines but we do not and have never had any issues with insects etc. destroying them. though we do feed them via an ample of supply of manure/compost.

To be honest you (depending on the variety) you do not need many vines if the fruit is just for eating but we used the grapes to make wine, juice, vinegar, jams etc. Hopefully the ones we have just put in will eventually allow us to get back to do this. Time will tell............

Hope some of the above helps, they are well worth the first couple years of care for the benefits afterwards.

[grenfell]

I have a vine that I frankly had not looked after properly . A lot had grown into the plum tree which after I pruned was left flapping about for want of a better term. The trellis that it had been originally been growing on was falling down too so now it's held up by a few ropes or is trailing over the ground ( and things like the cement mixer etc) . It does produce a fair few grapes and I've made wine with them. We visited a vineyard earlier in the year and that inspired me to take cuttings which are looking well and probably need transplanting now.