food sectionfood section
Scores of varieties of wild grape vines are indigenous to the United States as well as all of North America. They therefore do not need to be domesticated as they are already native, and acclimated to our soils. They can be cultivated though if you wish to grow some on your property. The fruit is smaller and more tart than propagated varieties you would purchase from a grocer, but wild grapes can be used for juices, jellies and desserts. They can be cultivated by seed, or more commonly by cuttings.
Mustang grape vines grow in warm climates, such as Texas and Louisiana. They thrive in USDA Hardiness Zone 7. With white flowers and dark berries, they are an attractive addition to a garden but they grow up to 40 feet and take up a lot of space. If you want to landscape your yard, you might need to remove the Mustang grapes to allow more sunshine below the plant and give yourself more room to work.
Pruning a grape vine isn't simply a matter of cutting away unwanted vines that cascade from the trellis. Cutting back too much wood pushes the grape vine into producing more foliage than fruit the next season, while pruning too little forces the grape vine to spend energy supporting the growth rather than storing its excess energy in large, plentiful grape bunches. Knowing when, where and how to cut back your grape vine is key to a good harvest.
Adding grape vines to your landscaping offers multiple benefits. Not only will you be rewarded with fresh fruit from your back yard, but grape leaves and vines provide a unique and decorative appearance. Introducing colorful or dyed mulch can enhance the appearance of your grape vines and help deter weed growth.
Grapes are one of the easiest fruiting plants to grow in the home garden and, besides producing edible fruit, are attractive plants to cover garden trellises, fences or walls. Grapevine varieties exist for almost all climate areas, and the plants are tolerant of wide swings in soil pH. Grapes are available at home and garden centers as potted plants or in the early spring as bare root vines. Although planting grapes is easy, you may need to amend the soil in the fall to create healthy growing conditions for the plants in the following spring.
Muscadine grape vines can be trained to grow over an arbor or fence to hold the vines up off the ground. However, installing a wire trellis makes vine maintenance and grape harvesting much easier. They can be grown on a single- or double-wire trellis, although a double-wire trellis will result in higher fruit production.
Grapes make a welcome addition to any garden, for both the fruit they produce and their attractive form. Grape vines typically begin producing fruit in their third year. They are especially long-lived in the right conditions, fruiting for 25 to 100 years. Annual pruning grape vines maintains their form and improves the fruits’ size and quality. The technique called cane pruning is recommended for table grapes and for noncommercial wine grapes. This works well with a trellis, where fruiting canes are trained horizontally along taut wire strung between posts.
Grapes can be eaten fresh or used to make juice, wine and preserves. But when the growing season is over, grape vines still require care. Pruning and careful training are as important as proper nutrition to a healthy grape harvest the following year. Since grapes can grow aggressively, they are generally pruned back once they go dormant at the end of each growing season.
Form dry grape vines into wreaths or garlands to make fall decorations. Grape vines benefit from hard pruning at the end of the season, and the landscape benefits from pruning wild grapes so they do not encroach on trees and shrubs strangling them out. Decorate grape vine wreaths and garlands with natural dried herbs, flowers, grasses, seed pods or other natural items.
Grape vines in the backyard not only provide fruit you can eat raw or cook for jellies and jams, but create an attractive focal point with their lush foliage and fruit clusters. When trained to spread and grow along an overhead arbor or trellis, grape vines produce dense shade and natural color. Follow good cultural practices to keep young grape vines alive and encourage them to establish healthy roots. Once established, the prolific producers will reward you with one to two bushels of fruit per vine, depending on the variety.
The concord grape (Vitis labrusca Concord) is a cold-hardy grape native to North America. Although it can grow in USDA Zone 5a with winter temperatures of minus 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, it also requires a sufficient growing season. Concord grapes usually require a minimum of 150 days to mature and ripen. They may survive your winters but you’ll never get to harvest grapes if they don't get a chance to ripen.
Grassy weed control is essential for a productive grape crop. Grass presents serious problems for grapevines when they're left to compete with the crop for soil nutrients, moisture, airflow and sunlight. Further, grass offers pests like insects and fungal diseases a hospitable environment to flourish and spread. Treating grapevines growing in dense grass growth is difficult because sprays from herbicides or fungicides are unable to adequately cover the grape plants. Use the right herbicides and cultural methods to prevent harm to grapevines.
Grapes are sweet, refreshing and versatile; they can be made into wine, juice, raisins or eaten just as they are. Wonderful as this fruit is, some vines can become invasive and cause problems for homeowners. Most invasive vines are native to the U.S. and belong to the Vitis species. In addition to the native species, there is one non-native invasive called the porcelain-berry.
Grapes grow well in home gardens with proper support. A trellis system holds the vines upright, which simplifies pruning and harvest while ensuring the vines grow properly. The fruit remains off the ground, and the entire plant is easily accessed for general maintenance. A pole support system holds up a single row of grapevines while taking up minimal garden space. The poles hold up the wires supporting the vines. Any type of sturdy poles work well, including fence supports or metal stakes.
Growing grapes can be a challenging but rewarding experience, especially if you make your own wine. Non-vintners can also enjoy grapes in jams and pies. Grapes grow best when the soil pH is between 5.0 and 6.0. To perform well, they also require the addition of soil nutrients each year. When planting grapes, choose a spot with well-draining soil, as standing water will kill your vines.
Grapevines grow for up to 50 years, with long, climbing vines, hanging foliage and lush fruit harvests. One vine may take up to 20 feet in the outdoor garden, while multiple plantings become overwhelming. If you want to grow grapevines without the large space and time commitment, create bonsai vines with controlled potted situations, a small trellis and consistent pruning.
Mulching grape vines can increase yield and improve vine vigor without adding other nutrients to the soil. It also keeps weeds from growing, conserves moisture and reduces erosion. Although some gardeners believe that cedar mulch contains allelopathic chemicals that keep seeds from germinating or growing well, Master Gardener Linda Chalker-Scott at Washington State University writes that cedars do not have this ability. On the contrary, cedar mulch offers several advantages. Using black-dyed cedar mulch is another issue.
Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated crops. Grown for their clusters of sweet, juicy fruits, grapes are eaten raw, or made into wine, jellies, juice and other culinary delights. Grapevines need full sun during their fruiting cycle, although they can still bear fruit in areas with partial sun. However, the more sun the grapevines receive, the plumper, juicer, sweeter and more abundant the grape clusters are.
Wild grapes are truly wild plants that grow extensively throughout many parts of the United States. Most species have peeling bark, and some even have hairy trunks, but there is much variation among species. One exception to the aspect of shedding bark is the Vitis rotundifolia, a wild grape with a smooth stem.
Growing grapes is among the most versatile of home gardening projects. Grapes can of course be eaten raw and can also be processed into wine, grape juice, preserves and raisins, offering many diverse uses for grapes you harvest. Disease control is a critical part of bringing your grapes to harvest time, since many of the most common grape diseases can kill the grapes while they are still on the vine.
Grapevines are rustic summertime plants, and they grow quite large in outdoor plantings. Keep them smaller and more contained in indoor plantings with rich soil, large pots, stakes and the right location. Maintain the grapevines for years for a continued fruit harvest.
Also known as black Spanish, Lenoir grapes grow well in certain U.S. climates, especially in Texas. The vine produces a deep red, nearly black-skinned, somewhat acidic grape good for jellies, juices and wines. The vine produces large clusters of small grapes with distinctive red juice. While Lenoir is immune to other grapes' greatest enemy, Pierce's disease, this variety can fall prey to a few serious diseases such as mildews, rot and anthracnose. Poorly drained soils and high pH levels may contribute to the plant's susceptibility to disease.
Grapes are a native fruit of Asia, and the cultivated varieties have been produced in their natural habitat -- and well beyond -- for the past 5,000 years. The wild grape varieties have been used in human societies since prehistoric and biblical times. The fruit has been used in winemaking since early Greek and Roman civilizations.
Kiwis, named for their resemblance to the brown, fuzzy bird found in New Zealand, are a delicious, versatile fruit. Rich in vitamin C, potassium, fiber and antioxidants, this small fruit offers a lot of benefits. Kiwi fruit are delicate, but with proper selection, storage and preparation, kiwi fruits will maintain juicy, tangy consistency for several weeks.
If you're looking to mix things up, there are a number of fruits that you can substitute for bananas. Many of these fruits are tropical, and although they look or taste like bananas, they each have their own unique taste and smell and can be served on their own or included in your cooking.
Mahogany, a type of tree found near beaches and roadsides, is best known for its wood, used in furniture and sculptures. However, the tree also produces a medicinal, edible fruit used to increase blood circulation and reduce cholesterol. You can make a bulk supply of mahogany fruit jelly to store for whenever you need a health boost.
Kiwi fruits are popular for their sweet taste and high nutritional value. Kiwi is rich in vitamins A, C and E, and have about as much potassium as bananas. They also have 2 grams of dietary fiber per fruit. Kiwis are native to China, and while unknown to the Western world until the 20th century, are used extensively today. For those with a sweet tooth for the exotic treat, there are several other little-known fruits that share much of kiwi's appeal.
Viticulture is the art of grape growing and is closely tied to viniculture, the art of growing grapes specifically for wine. Although believed to have existed since the dawn of agriculture, archaeologists can only speculate on viticulture prior to around 5,000 BC.
Pinot noir grape vines were among the first ever to be cultivated for producing wine, being coveted by the Roman Empire. Pinot noir remains one of the most prestigious wine grapes. For optimum growing conditions, pinot noir grape vines require hot days and cool nights, with no extreme temperatures. They are primarily grown in the Burgundy region of France, but are also cultivated in New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Chile and the United States---mainly in Oregon.
Grapes are a popular fruit that are grown commercially and in backyard gardens. They are grown for eating fresh, for processing into wine, juice or jams and jellies as well as grown for purely ornamental purposes. Grapes grow on vines that are specially trained to produce a large harvest. If they are pruned and trained correctly, each vine can yield about 20 pounds of grapes each year. In the early spring, weeping or oozing of sap occurs at the site where the canes have been pruned and this is where the vine begins its new life for the coming season.
Whether served on toast for breakfast or in a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich, grape jelly is one of America's favorites. And of course, homemade always tastes even better. While Concord grapes are the most popular for jelly making, most varieties of grapes can be used for jelly, including wine grapes. If your vines are healthy, and you like the flavor of the grapes they produce, turn your crop into jelly and savor your harvest all year long.
A staple of human history, wine has been consumed as an alcoholic beverage for thousands of years. To help identify the different varieties of grapes, winemakers use various processes that help them be sure they are growing the right grape for their wine.
Although they have a reputation for being picky, grape vines actually just take some specific care, and a healthy grape harvest can make it all worthwhile. Beyond the fruit, grape vines are a good source of grape leaves, which are traditionally used to make dolmades. These Greek and Middle Eastern dishes--rolls of grape leaves stuffed with rice--are best when made with homegrown leaves. Preserve your grape leaves to try your hand at rolling and stuffing them any time of year.
Grape vines bring people delicious products, such as grapes, raisins, wine and grape juice. There are thousands of varieties of grapes. Grapes are broken down into white or black (also called "red") types and then broken down further into origins of American or European varieties. The most commonly consumed types are table grapes and wine making grapes. There are over 5,000 varieties used only for wine making.
Making your own wine can be very gratifying. If you have the land and the resources, you can produce good-quality wine with your own vineyard. Norton grapevines are a popular choice with winemakers who want to produce a dry wine. These vines also are called Cynthiana in certain parts of the country. Norton grapes are one of the oldest types of grapes produced in America for the purpose of making wine. Buying Norton grapevines is a great way to start or complement any personal vineyard.
The Romans brought the art of wine making to what was once called Britannia, and tugged viticulture as far north as present day Lincolnshire, England. English wine has struggled with wet, cool weather and a bad rap brought on by the term "British wine," which refers to high-proof, fortified, syrupy booze. But warmer weather, brought on by global climate change, has actually improved wine making conditions in England and British wines are quickly getting a better name.
Kiwi vines are similar to grapes in that they must grow and mature for several years before they will bear fruit. The kiwi vines grow rapidly, but can take anywhere from two to five years before fruit appears. The time needed to mature depends on the variety of kiwi and the growing conditions. Hardy kiwi varieties tend to mature faster than traditional varieties.
