PLANT it NOW GRAPES

As far as fruiting plants go, it’s hard to beat a grapevine for benefits. For starters, a grapevine gives you lots of delicious fruit in summer for eating fresh or dried, juicing and making wine or vinegar (intentionally or unintentionally). The young leaves can be used for making dolmades, and if you grow your vine over a pergola you can use it to create leafy shade in summer then allow the warming sunshine to penetrate when it loses its leaves in winter. And, if you enjoy doing a little craftwork, the long vines that are removed each winter when you’re pruning are ideal for weaving baskets.

Winter is the best time to plant a grapevine as the plants are dormant and available bare-rooted, which saves a little money, but you can also find potted plants in the warmer months. Grapes grow best in areas with cool winters, wettish spring seasons and dry summers. They struggle with fungal problems in wet, humid summers, but there are resistant varieties worth planting, such as Isabella, or try one of the muscadine types, which thrive in hot, humid conditions.

Grapes are adaptable to many soil types but may need supplementary feeding if the soil is nutritionally poor. Add a generous amount of compost to the soil when planting to get your vine off to a good start. Find a nice sunny spot and a suitable structure. You could grow a grapevine on a pergola, a fence or wires stretched between two posts. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s sturdy.