Growing Grapes in the Home Fruit Planting, HYG-1423-98http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1423.html2 of 506/05/2007 10:10 AM
available. Some cultivars are good table grapes while others make better wine grapes (Table 1). In Ohio, theearliest cultivars ripen beginning about mid-August, while the latest cultivars ripen fruit from late Septemberto early October. Canadice is an example of an early season cultivar. Concord is a mid-season cultivar and themost popular grape in Ohio (Figure 2). Reliance is one of the best tasting, red seedless grapes (Figure 3).Catawba is a popular late-ripening cultivar used mostly for wines.By selecting and planting different cultivars in the home planting, the gardener can spread the harvest overseveral weeks. However, if interested in planting only a few vines or even an isolated single vine, thegardener may do so without worrying about the necessity of planting different cultivars. Grapevines availableto gardeners are self-pollinated or self-fruitful. Bees are not required for pollination.Figure 2. Concord grape is the most popular grape in Ohio.Disease tolerance is another important factor to consider since wetsprings, and hot and humid summers tend to favor common diseasesthat attack grapes. Try to select grape cultivars that are leastsusceptible to diseases (Table 2). However, there are no grape cultivarsthat are disease resistant.
Planting
Early spring is the best time to plant grapevines. Fall planting is not recommended because plants are likely tobe lost to heaving during the first winter. During the first year, the soil is prepared for planting, cultivars areselected, and vines are planted, mulched, fertilized, and kept free of weeds, insects, and diseases. Prune off broken or dead portions of branches and roots. At the same time, prune top growth to a single cane. Duringthe first year, the vines are normally tied to a stake to keep them off the ground, prevent damage, and makespraying more effective. If the season of planting is dry, supplemental watering is also necessary to keep thevines growing. It is important to get as much first-year growth as possible.
Establishment
Three years are normally required to establish a grape planting. Vines planted for training on a trellis arenormally placed 8 feet apart, while those planted for training on an arbor can be placed 4 feet apart. Beforegrowth begins the second year, a support for the vines, either a trellis or an arbor, must be provided. Care of vines the second year is similar to that of the first year. However, during the second season, a system fortraining the vines should be selected.Vines are trained to a particular system by pruning and tying the canes to the support system. In somemethods of training grapevines, the canes are tied to wires above the trunk and arms of the vines. Suchtraining works well where grapevines are to be grown on a fence or in an upright position. In another methodof training, the canes are tied to the wires and the fruit bearing shoots are allowed to droop or hang down. Athird method is the cordon type training system. Here the fruiting canes are developed from a horizontalextension of the trunk called a cordon. If canes are pruned long, they can be tied to the lower wires. If prunedshort, they hang free. One of the most common training systems is called the single curtain/cordon bilateralsystem (Figure 4).
Table 1. Common Grape Cultivars Recommended for Home Fruit PlantingsPrincipal CultivarSeasonColor of FruitUse(s)Remarks
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