Grapes
Vitis vinifera
History
Grapes are old and I mean old. Grapes have been found in fossil records dating back over 66 million years. The grapes were spread through birds and were able to stay around until man had begun to bred them. Begin over 10,000 years ago in centeral asia they were used in wines with the oldest know winery dating back 8,000 years. Grapes are popular around the world in all forms, with some being specialized for wine others such as the cotton candu grape are purely for the flavor if the grape itself. with such a wide varitey of graps it is important to select the right grape for your use.
Growing conditions
Sunlight
Needs atleast 8 hours of direct sunlight
Temperature Range
75F-95F
Frost can kill vines
Soil Conditions
Sandy Loam soil.
Water
1 to 2 inches of water per week.
Increase waterings during hotter peroids
Nutrients
10-10-10
Apply compost early in the year to promote healthy growth
pH
5.0-6.5
Plant care
Sowing Seeds
Soak seeds for 24 hours before planting. only plant seed that have sunk to the bootom
Sow seeds in a well drained soil that
Germination
Seeds can take 7 to 14 day to germinate
Pruning
Prune back Tangling vines and excessive suckers to focus energy on to few clusters.
Prune in early spring and late fall while the plant is dormant. Additional pruning throughout the summer maybe be require for vigorus growth.
Harvest
The variety of grape will determine the harvest time. Tasting grapes as they can help determine how ripe they are. They will change from a sour and acidic taste to a sweeter and more sugary taste.
Growing Tips
Grape vines can last for decades if cared for properly. As the taste changes over time that will determine how long the vine will last.
Some strains Of grapes are more cold tolerant than others. If you live in a colder climate consider planting a cold hardy variety such as Frontenac the can tolerat as low as -40F.