Growing a grapevine can be a very satisfying experience and a lucrative business undertaking.
Just imagine harvesting your own grapes that will then be served as your wine after dinner! You certainly would take pride in saying and claiming that the glass of wine served at your dining table comes from your efforts and the sweat of your own labor.
Although grapes can be eaten raw or dried, the wide use of it is for wine making purpose.
Growing a grapevine has become a major activity of farmers in almost all parts of the world because of its high commercial value.
You cannot just make good wine without grapes as one of the main ingredients.
In order to grow grapevines that are healthy and productive, let me give you some keys or tips in order to achieve optimal yield.
Whether you are in the Africa, Asia, Canada, USA or France you will find these tips useful: Location Just as location or place is one of the major P's in business, it is also very important in growing a grapevine.
You need to plant your vines where they will receive lots of sunlight and in a soil with a good drainage.
Sunlight is one of the major factor in producing healthy vines.
Plants need the sun for photosynthetic process and the more exposed your grapes to sunlight, the more sweet and delicious they become.
Soil management and preparation As the foundation for your vines, your soil condition is very important.
An ideal soil has a pH of 5.
5 to 6.
8 level.
Sandy loam is generally the ideal soil type.
A soil sampling analysis will accurately help in knowing the deficiency of your soil and in deciding which fertilizers and the amount to use in your area.
Remember that excess of nutrients can have an adverse effect on the growth and health of your vines.
Selection of cultivar Choosing the right cultivar is crucial.
You cannot just choose haphazardly for it might lead to problems later on.
Your local nursery guy will help in the selection of cultivar best suited to your region.
Find a cultivar adapted to your climate and growing season.
Decide if you are going to plant table grapes or fruits suited for wine production.
Think of the cultivars that are in short supply in your area and try and see if it's viable to plant them.
Your soil sampling result will serve as your guide as to what grapes will fare well in your area.
Each cultivar has a distinct characteristic, so better know your vines well before planting them.
Trellis management Right after preparing the soil, go on with your trellis construction.
You could make use of whatever materials you have for the trellis from wood to iron depending on your budget.
Trellis must be sturdy and strong for they will lend support to the vine during its reproductive stage.
Pruning practices Contrary to other plant propagation technique, in growing a grapevine, the thinner the shoots the better.
This will pave the way for healthier shoots later on.
Although pruning is one of the most tedious part of grape growing, this is one of the secrets of producing healthy grapevines.
The more that the grapes are exposed to the sun the better for them and this will also prevent the entry of pests and diseases.
Some other management practices worth considering in growing a grapevine are pest/disease monitoring and control and vineyard layout design.