Anyone who has tried grapes picked from bushes growing in Greece, Spain or another wine country at least once remembered and appreciated their tasteUnfortunately, it is in vain to look for these unique fruits in domestic stores.It is true that the grapes are large and sweet, but … Fortunately, the grapevines that bear fruit with great taste can be successfully grown on our home plot.
In order for the vine bushes to take root in our garden, we must follow a few simple but important rules. The first is to provide the plants with a very sunny position, preferably next to the sunny wall of the building, although a line in the open area is also possible.The second is a well-thought-out selection of varieties.First of all, choose the ones that are easy to grow, sufficiently early and resistant to diseases and pests.
Let's give up the varieties from southern Europe, especially the so-called true grapevines, sensitive to cold, and therefore difficult to grow in our climate.The best are early and resistant hybrid varieties, which bear fruit as abundantly as its tasty and aromatic cousins from the hot South.We can successfully buy them even on the Internet. We can choose seedless varieties: exceptionally tasty ('Einset Seedless', 'A1704', 'Canadice, Interlaken'), with a spicy note ('Muscat Bleu', 'Iza Zaliwska') or with such an interesting sweet taste that they deserve our attention ('Swenson Red'). They all grow, bear fruit and fully mature in our climate. The following varieties are best for wine: 'Rondo', 'Solaris', 'Seyval Blanc', 'Aurora', 'Bianca'. It is worth recommending: "Arkadia", "Treasure of Panonia", "Kodrianka", "Agat Doński".
The third rule is the proper maintenance of the bush right after planting. Even simple cutting systems: "head", Guyot's system, one- or two-armed cord give good results. Well-cared for, i.e. non-compacted shrubs give excellent yields and even the risk of diseases, such as powdery mildew, is much lower.Vines cannot be planted and left alone, because then the only thing we will see is lots of greenery, but also poor grapes.Although there are also varieties that can be a wonderful green or multi-colored cover and bear fruit, e.g. 'Ontario' or 'Zilga'.
Other aspects of cultivation, such as soil quality, are of secondary importance, because the vines can grow even in very poor positions. Fertilization may be limited to a few shovels of manure or compost in spring. Watering is needed only in the first season after planting, then the plant will do well.For the winter, the mentioned varieties should be protected with a mound of soil, bark or leaves at the base, like in roses. To sum up: not much work, and the success is guaranteed!
Guyot cutting
The Guyot system cutting is most commonly used in Poland, both in commercial and amateur cultivation. In this case, the shrub with a low trunk (e.g. 60 cm) consists of one long shoot (6-12 eyes) from which the fruiting vines grow, and a short two-eye plug with two substitute shoots that will form the bush next year.The supporting structure is made of several horizontal wires, the first of which is approximately 60-70 cm high and is used to attach the horizontal shoot to the fruiting shoots.
The next wires, spaced approximately every 30 cm, support the fruiting shoots. As it grows, it is enough to interweave the shoots and they will stick to the wires with their whiskers. The entire horizontal bed with the fruiting shoots this year is removed before or immediately after winter.Then the bush is created anew from two replacement shoots growing from the spigot, one of which is bent to the first wire, simultaneously shortening to 6-12 stitches, and the other is cut into two eyes to two replacement shoots next year. Guyot cutting is simple and in most cases very effective.
For varieties that require covering for the winter, e.g. "Treasure of Panonia", "Arkadia", the best solution is to run along an oblique rope, which allows even perennial shrubs to be bent to the ground.In addition, the large mass of the permanent part of the bush ensures a stable, abundant fruiting.
Good to know
Grapes contain a lot of valuable vitamins and minerals for our body.In addition, they relieve stress, strengthen immunity, and regulate the digestive tract.
