Growing Grapes At Home: Your Step-By-Step Guide
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With their versatile nature, grapes are perfect for anything. You can make jam or wine or eat them as they are. They have natural sugar, which makes them health-friendly. Grapes are also quite easy to grow in many different climates and soil types, perfect for your home garden. 

Follow these steps to grow grapes in your backyard: 

Choosing The Variety 

To start with, you will need to choose which types of grapes you want. Grapes have 2 categories: wine grapes and table grapes. Wine grapes are thick-skinned and have higher acidity, whereas table grapes are bred for their sweet flesh and thin skins ideal for eating fresh. Within these two categories, there are countless cultivars to choose from. When deciding which grape variety to grow, consider factors like your local climate, the amount of available sunlight, and your taste preferences. 

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Prepare The Planting Site

Now look for the right location; grapes tend to grow well in nutrient-rich and well-drained soil. Look for a spot with plenty of sunlight and that is less windy. Mix the soil well with organic matter like compost or aged manure to improve drainage and fertility. Grape vines also require a support system, such as a trellis or arbour, to train them as they grow. This can be a simple wooden or metal structure or a more elaborate decorative feature in your garden.

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Planting

Choose the right season! When planting grape vines, choose the right season for the best harvest. Grapes typically grow in the early spring or late fall. Dig a hole slightly deeper and wider than the grapevine's root system, and carefully place the plant in the hole, not damaging the roots. Backfill the hole with the amended soil, gently tamping it down to remove any air pockets. Water the vine thoroughly, and continue to keep the soil consistently moist as the plant becomes established over the first year.

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Training And Pruning Of The Vine

Do not allow the grapevine to produce any fully matured fruits, this will damage the vines with weight and will ruin the further harvest. Cut them off to make the vine strong. In later years prune as needed, and prune back 90% of the new growth on older vines each year.

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Protect From Pest 

Even if you grow them in your home garden, you will need protection from pests. Be careful of the following things and consult your local Gardner if you need any help:

Keep weeds at bay by hand-picking them regularly.

  1. Cover the grapevines with fine net mash to keep the bird away 
  2. Be sure there is enough airflow to prevent powdery mildew.
  3. Aphids can be a problem for grapevines; ladybugs are a natural consumer of aphids and will not damage your vines further.

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How To Check For Harvested Grapes?

Now, it's time to be patient. A good harvest of strong and edible grapes will happen after 1-3 years. Be patient and follow the process to make sure you get a fruitful result from your hard work. When the grapes are harvested, this is how you will check it: 

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  1. Pick a few grapes from different areas and taste them.
  2. If the grapes are sweet, start picking as they are ready for harvesting and eating.
  3. Colour and size are not necessarily a good indication of ripe fruit. Only pick the fruit after you have tasted it and are certain it is ready.