| Growing Grapes |
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It is generally agreed that vines need an absolute minimum of feeding and they have done well in quite light soil where the roots can get hold of moisture at the right time. In fact, it is generally agreed that it pays to plant vines fairly close because the root competition helps to ensure sufficient starvation.
It is generally agreed that vines need an absolute minimum of feeding and they have done well in quite light soil where the roots can get hold of moisture at the right time. In fact, it is generally agreed that it pays to plant vines fairly close because the root competition helps to ensure sufficient starvation. Therefore, with the ordinary outdoor varieties, all one has to do is to make sure that the soil doesn't lack in moisture and humus, and once again we gladly accept the straw mulching system as advised for blackcurrants and gooseberries. Clean straw, free from such weeds as clocks and thistles, is put down all over the ground where the vines are growing, to the depth of about 8 inches when trodden down. The object now is to let this cane produce young laterals on which the fruit will be borne. These laterals will be tied to the wires provided and will be pruned in the summer once a month or so to keep them under control. This is usually known as stopping. It much depends on the system of growing as to the distances apart. For instance, if one adopts the European method you could plant on the 4-foot square system. If, on the other hand, one is growing single cordons against the wall, they might be as far apart as 4 feet 6 inches. If the vine was to be trained upwards and sideways to cover a large area, the distance would be, say, 15 feet. The following January the cane that has borne the fruit in the summer will be pruned, back to within an inch of its base, while the other cane that was trained upwards will be curved round to take the place of the one which was cut back. Thus year after year you ensure replacement of strong young wood, plus heavy cropping. In France, where, large acreage is planted, they cut off all the roots to within a couple of inches of their base and then they plant with a steel-pointed dibber about 9 inches deep. The planter then stamps the soil to make certain that it is really firm. The vines should be planted in late October while the soil is still warm and friable. The vines should be planted when they are one year old. More information: Grape is a long lived and deeply rooted deciduous climber in your fruit tree garden.
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