Grapes are one of the most delicious and tasty fruits. With its great flavor and aroma, as well as high content of fermentable sugar, it is truly the best fruit for wine making. Before you can go ahead with making that perfect wine, however, you need to learn the art of planting grapes. Though you could easily just plant a couple of grape seeds or cuttings and wish for the best, it’s better to have a few guidelines to ensure that your grapes flourish and bear healthy fruits.
Pick a great wine grape variety
To succeed in wine making, you should choose a wine grape variety that’s known for thriving in your area. The vitis vinifera species is basically categorized into two varieties of grapes, which are the red and the white grape varieties. One of the world’s most popular red grape varieties is the Cabernet Sauvignon. Practically all of the major wine-producing countries, from Canada to Lebanon, produce this wine grape. Some of the reasons for its popularity is due to its ability to flourish in different climates and resistance to diseases like rot. For the white grape varieties, a very well-known one is the Chardonnay, which is also grown pretty much wherever wines are produced. Around 400,000 acres of these grapes are planted worldwide, making it one of the most widely planted grapes in the world.
Plan a good foundation
You need the right foundation for planting grapes successfully. Highly organic and well-drained soil ensures that your plants will grow healthily and bear fruits. Your plants also need good sunlight exposure and airflow so they can bloom well and prevent diseases from occurring. To support the grape vines growing, you need to construct a sturdy trellis system that will be able to withstand time and different weather conditions. This will provide support to your vines so that after two to three years, you will be able to harvest your ripened grapes.
Ensure proper care
Caring for your grape plants involves watering them, adding fertilizer when needed, weeding, pruning, and controlling diseases and pests. If you get a couple of good rain showers, you probably don’t need to water your plants for a while, but if you live in a dry, hot area, you need to water your plants regularly. Your soil also determines how often you water your grapes, as clay-based soils retain more water, while sandy soils drain water more easily. Never overwater your plants, as this will stop fruit-bearing and turn the growth to leaves.
Fertilizer is usually added during the dormant season to prepare the grape vines for another growing period. Pruning must be done to ensure healthy shoots that will produce and bear abundant fruits. Pest and disease control is also important as the development of these problems can cause setbacks to your goal of planting grapes successfully. This also increases the cost of your venture, so make sure to establish preventive measures beforehand like ensuring good air circulation and making use of repellents to scare away different pests.
