Growing grapes??

[lesa]

My favorite greenhouse sent me an email, about BOGO free grape plants. I really wanted to plant some this year, so I am going to head over and see what they have.
I have kept Dh very busy with projects this year- and I don't want to drive him crazy building something for the grapes.
How elaborate do I need to be? I thought about growing them on my chain link- but I understand you can't really prune properly... Does anyone have a simple grape arbor idea??

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

my dad made a nice arbor for my grapes years ago. he used landscape timbers as the support in the ground and just finished a few lattice panels and attached them. we have a nice bench under the arbor. only one grape vine took off and has been growing over the arbor since it was planted in 1996! it has become huge but i still trim it each year to keep some of it's growth in check.

have you thought of doing an espalier type method? similar to what vineyards do with their grapes. they do that so the plants get the sun they need on their leaves while keeping the grapes aired so they do not attract fungus or get too much sun, while also keeping the base of the plant cool and shaded. this also makes it easier to mulch under it!

 

[wifezilla]

First of all, it will take a year or so before you need to panic about the arbor, so BUY THE PLANTS NOW!!!

Second, the arbor can be pretty much whatever you want it to be. Ours is a simple 4x4 cube of sorts with some 2x2 slats over the top. It actually makes up part of our duck run and the grape vine provides shade and free snacks for the little goobers

I often don't "properly prune" and I still get loads of grapes. They are a very forgiving plant!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Not sure how well you can see this. It's just a post in the ground and a cross-bar to get some spread. I used 2" x 4" vinyl coated wire but you can use cable or wire between the cross-bars. Whatever you have on hand. Or you can get fancy and make something pretty.

 

[lesa]

Thanks guys! I was imagining something very elaborate!! Off to the greenhouse tomorrow!

 

[stepstephens2]

Hi, I'm here in Fresno- the raisin capital- and I just wanted to agree with the set up ridgerunner showed you. That's what everyone here pretty much uses if they have a choice. Unfortunately, someone started our grapes all along a wooden fence before we ever lived here... and now the fence is buckling and breaking under the weight. If you do the set up with the posts and then string heavy duty wire between them like an old fashion clothes line, the grapes will take care of themselves pretty much.

 

[vfem]

We just have posts and wire pulley system set up on ours... nother elaborate or expensive at all. We planted a second grape vine on the fence at the end of the driveway... no cost planting!

Like Ridge's Set up:

We will be doing a type of arbor over one side of our deck to grow another vine over. In hopes of shade more then produce, though the grapes will be a bonus.

 

[ninnymary]

Lesa..Vfems and ridgerunners are very good practical ways to grow grapes. But...I love elaborate! I'm one of those that like "cutys" type of things. lol Look for pictures in magazines and see what you like and what works for you.

Mary

 

[wifezilla]

 

[lesa]

Wow, Wife- those are some grapes!!! I know Mary, I am the queen of cute- but if I ask Dh to build me something cute, it might be all over! I better start simple!