Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
3/29/99
Contacts:
Richard Jauron, Extension, (515) 294-1871
Elaine Edwards, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-5168
Yard and Garden Column for the Week Beginning April 2
Planting Grapes in the Home Garden
By Richard Jauron
Extension horticulturist
Iowa State University Extension
The grapevine is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. Grapes can be eaten fresh or processed into jam, jelly, juice or wine. Home gardeners can successfully grow grapes in Iowa. Basic requirements include a good planting site, hardy varieties (cultivars) and proper culture.
Site Selection
Grapevines can grow on a wide range of soil types.
Well-drained soils produce the best growth and yields. Avoid
soils that are persistently wet during the growing season.
Highly fertile soils are not essential. Grapevines prefer a
slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5, but grow well
with a pH from 5.5 to 7.5.
Because of space restrictions, planting sites often are limited in the home garden. Select a site that receives full sun. Avoid sites shaded by trees and shrubs.
Also, consider the possibility of herbicide drift. Grapes are very susceptible to injury from 2,4-D, dicamba and similar broadleaf herbicides. In rural areas, select sites protected by large trees (windbreaks) or topography. In urban areas, inform neighbors of the location of your grape planting. If your neighbors use broadleaf herbicides to control broadleaf weeds in their lawns, encourage them to apply these materials in the fall. Fall applications provide the best broadleaf weed control and are less likely to injure grapevines.
Plant Material and Sources
Purchase dormant, bare-root grapevines from a reliable,
reputable garden center or mailorder company. When selecting
grape varieties, consider winter hardiness, time of ripening
and intended use (fresh, jam or jelly, juice or wine).
Suggested blue/black grape varieties for Iowa include 'Van Buren' (early ripening; table, wine), 'Buffalo' (early to mid; table, juice, jam/jelly), 'Price' (early to mid; table, juice, jam/jelly), 'Fredonia' (mid; table, juice, jam/jelly), 'Bath' (mid; table) and 'Steuben' (mid; table, wine). Excellent red-fruited varieties are 'Swenson Red' (early ripening; table) and 'Delaware' (mid; wine). 'Edelweiss' is an early ripening, white, table grape.
Seedless and wine grapes can be grown successfully in central and southern Iowa, but are not reliably winter hardy in northern areas. 'Reliance' and 'Vanessa' are red, seedless grape cultivars that perform well in central and southern Iowa. Excellent wine grape (French hybrid) varieties are 'Foch' (blue/black; early ripening), 'Leon Millot' (blue/black; early), 'Aurore' (white; early), 'Seyval Blanc' (white; early to mid) and 'Baco Noir' (blue/black; early to mid).
'Concord' is another variety that doesn't perform well in northern Iowa. While 'Concord' possesses excellent cold hardiness, its fruit often do not fully ripen in northern areas because of the shorter growing season. 'Concord' is best suited to central and southern Iowa. Its blue/black fruit can be eaten fresh or processed into juice, jam, jelly or wine.
Planting
The best time to plant dormant, bare-root grapevines in Iowa
is early spring (late March and April). If planting must be
delayed for several days after purchase or their arrival in
the mail, moisten the packing material around their roots,
place the plants in a plastic bag and store them in a cool
root cellar or garage.
Before planting grapevines, soak their roots in water for two or three hours. Make the planting holes slightly larger than the root systems of the plants. Set plants into the soil at about the level they grew in the nursery. The soil line mark and root initials indicate this level. Spread out their roots, then backfill with the original soil from the hole. Firm the soil around the roots as you backfill.
Plant grapevines 6 to 8 feet apart within the row. Plant vigorous varieties, such as 'Concord,' 8 feet apart. Less vigorous varieties may be planted 6 feet apart. Space rows at least 9 feet apart.
After planting a grapevine, cut its strongest cane back to two or three strong buds; completely remove all other canes. If a trellis is not used during the first growing season, set a 5- to 6-foot stake into the soil near each grapevine and train the new growth to it. Tie the shoots loosely to the stake to avoid girdling the stems. Support the new growth until it reaches the 6-foot wire on the grape trellis.
Grapevines require 1 inch of water per week through the first growing season. Water each plant thoroughly after planting and every 7 to 10 days during dry weather.
ml: isugarden
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