Growing Grapes

Grow Your Own

Growing Grapes

Grapes have become synonymous with California, but for the home gardener, it is not always practical to plant a mini-vineyard since many of us live in apartments or in homes with smaller yards. Thankfully, grapes are very easy to grow in small spaces (staked in large tubs or on a trellis) and will provide great fall color.

In the Bay Area, many gardeners live in cooler coastal settings or in fog belts where ripening traditional wine or table grapes can be difficult. Here at Sloat Garden Center, we are offering 4 varieties that tolerate cooler weather and only have moderate heat requirements to ripen fruit. We also stock old favorites such as Thompson and Flame Seedless, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir.

TRY THIS GRAPE RECIPE: Grilled fish with Grape Salad
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Canadice - This vine produces red, nearly seedless grapes of mild flavor. Quickly covers a trellis.

Roger’s Red - Our own native Californian grape. It is very tasty but also seedy. Small berries are formed in long loose clusters and the foliage turns a flaming red in the fall. Best for jelly or juice. Wonderful covering arbors or walls for summer shade.

California Concord - This vine produces a small blue-black berry with that distinctive “foxy” taste. It does have seeds, but so what? It even resists powdery mildew!

Perlette - Produces pale green pearl sized seedless fruits. Wonderful foliage, too!

WHAT GRAPES NEED:

Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained sandy loam is ideal

Air circulation: Ever see those immense fans sitting in vineyards in Napa? It’s because grapes need free air movement. Trapped air increases danger from frost or mildew.

Pruning: High quality crop depends on initial training and regular dormant season pruning

Fertilizing/Pest defense: Fertilize in the spring but stop after the flowers set. Use sulfur spray for powdery mildew, or use rose defense, which would also help deter leafhoppers.

Harvesting: Cut bunches from vines in late summer or fall when grapes are sweet and fully colored.

The pleasure of eating fruits, herbs and vegetables harvested yourself is so sublime that sometimes mere words cannot do this experience justice. These are the fruits of your gardening labors and you should plan for them. Go ahead and dream of backyard strawberries, tomatoes in containers or herbs sprinkled onto the evening salad because now is the perfect time to get ready for edible gardening.

Need help growing your own? Stop by any Sloat Garden Center location with questions. We can help!

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