Grapevines - Vitis vinifera
Grapevines add a southern flair to a garden, but they require more maintenance than other plants. In this section and under Grape Varieties, Training and Pruning you find comprehensive information about growing grapevines along walls, façades or in the garden. You can select trellis systems, compare table grape varieties and study suitable training techniques.
Requirements
Position in full sun, preferably protected from prevailing winds.
Growth and Foliage
A climber with tendrils, vigorous growth, yearly new shoots 1 - 4m, sometimes trailing like a bridal train. Leaf shapes often filigree. Foliage from April/May to October.
Flower and Fruit
Flower insignificant, panicled. Fruit green, yellow, red or blue to black, grapes and berries of varying sizes.
- Old grapevine espaliers
- A well planned trellis guides the grapevines to where the greening is desired, leaving other areas free.
- Two grapevines on a façade
- Grapevines trained with tall trunks on a wire espalier. No unauthorised snacking here!
Trellis Systems
Rods, grids, wires or wire ropes, especially for tying the vine trunks. Se below for suitable wire rope systems. Usually Medium trellis systems, for larger areas and for old varieties and grapevines susceptible to fungus, Heavy-Duty Assembly Kits (greater distance from wall). In exceptional cases also Light Assembly Kits.
For espaliers along walls it is important that the stem framework of the vine is tied to the outside of the trellis. Yearly fruiting canes which are later pruned off get tucked behind the trellis.
Pruning
Formative pruning of the vine takes several years ("Training"). Pruning in winter an absolute necessity, additional summer pruning may be required.
NOTE
"FassadenGrün" provides comprehensive information about Grapevines via the Links above.
- Without summer pruning, the grapevine will often be trailing downwards, which has a charm all of its own.
- Wire espalier with vines
- Typical grapevine tendrils
- With increasing length and weight the new shoots grow freely into space in front of the wall, unless they get entangled with each other or the trellis.
- Not only children are attracted to grapes on a façade!
- Grapevine trained as a horizontal cordon, the lower wire holds the stem framework in place, while the upper wires support the new shoots.
- The foliage of grape varieties with green-yellow grapes will also turn yellow in autumn.
- Many black grapes - here "Dornfelder" - have orange to red foliage in autumn. Wire support system.
- A well trained and maintained grapevine looks perfectly neat also in winter, even before the thin shoots from the previous year are cut off.
- A grapevine trained as horizontal cordon, after winter pruning.