From a very young age, I had an immense love for grapes. I know many people would just prefer berries over grapes, but, trust me, grapes hit different.
If you’re in the pursuit of growing grapes at home, you may have some trouble navigating around all the different varieties that are out there.
In this article, I’ll guide you through some of the best grape varieties beginners like you can easily grow at home. So, let’s dive right into it, shall we?
Choose The Right Grape Variety
Grapes are generally divided into two categories – table grapes and wine grapes.
You’ll find that table grapes are a lot larger in size and taste sweeter as compared to wine grapes. Grapes used in winemaking are slightly more sour and smaller in size.
Between seedless and seeded grapes, it’s totally up to preference. Seedless grapes are much more pleasant to eat, while seeded varieties add a richer, earthier flavor to wine.
The Best Grape Varieties For Beginners
For Cooler Climates:
Concord is a grape variety excellent for cooler climate conditions. It’s hardy, meaning cold and frost won’t harm the fruit and it’s great for juicing or making jelly.
Himrod grapes are sweeter and lighter in color compared to the more traditional looking grapes. I love the fact that they’re seedless so I can devour them easily.
Edelweiss is a disease-resistant grape variety, wonderful for fresh eating. Storing them or trying to make things out of them generally doesn’t work so well. Just grow them in cool climates and enjoy them as they are.
For Moderate Climates:
Reliance is a super reliable grape variety that just works and tastes wonderful. These grapes will be red, seedless, and relatively easy to grow.
I don’t enjoy the taste of Venus grapes as much since they’re a little on the musky, funky side, but there’s no denying that they grow very well in milder climates.
Mars grapes grow vigorously at a rapid rate and are incredibly disease-resistant, meaning less stress for you. They’re easy to grow and maintain as well.
For Warmer Climates:
Thompson Seedless is the classic green grape variety we all know and love. It loves the sun and is ideal for growing in warmer regions and climates.
Flame Seedless is a heat-tolerant red grape variety that’s incredibly sweet and delicious tasting. I’ve grown flame seedless grapes many times in my backyard and I miss them a lot in the wintertime when the vines aren’t fruiting.
Black Monukka grapes actually taste quite similar to the Flame Seedless variety except they’re black in color. Some say they taste a little less sweet comparatively, but I’m not sure about that…
Some Basic Growing Requirements
If you thought grapes weren’t the kind of fruits that need lots of sunlight, hah, you were wrong. A good 6-8 hours of sunlight every day is the minimum to get the ball rolling.
They prefer well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH anywhere between 5.5 and 7.0. Because grapes grow on vines, you’ll need to add support in the form of a trellis or an arbor to maintain structure.
Planting & Care
The best time to plant grapes is generally in early spring or fall. And, yes, this is taking both warm and cold climate varieties.
Water your grape vines deeply but infrequently to encourage strong root development, and use light feedings of a balanced fertilizer or compost to address any nutrient deficiencies in the soil.
Common Problems & Solutions
Pests can cause real trouble when trying to grow grapes at home. Luckily, there are some natural pest control measures you can implement to keep them at bay.
A neem or peppermint oil spray made by mixing 1-2 tablespoons of either oil in a gallon of water should work well for protecting your garden from pests.
Diseases can be prevented by not watering the leaves and pruning your grape vines in time to allow for proper air circulation. If fungal diseases like powdery mildew or black rot are already spreading, use store-bought fungicides to bring the situation under control.
If birds are a concern, use netting or scare tactics to keep them from damaging the grapes while they’re growing.
Conclusion
As complex as the process of growing grapes at home may sound, it’s actually not that difficult to execute. Just pick the right varieties for your region/climate conditions, care for them how they want to be cared for, and enjoy fresh and delicious grape yields.
