Grape Vine Trellis
The really nice thing about growing your own grapes is that they do not take up a lot of space. They are a vine and you will train them to grow on a grape vine trellis. This makes it easy to grow a plant or two in your backyard vineyard, or easy to mange many acres of grape plants.
The grape vines are not strong enough to support themselves, plus they would run wild on the ground without a grape vine trellis, which would reduce your yield and cause many other problems. A grape vine trellis can take on many shapes and looks, depending upon the needs of the grower. A backyard grower may want a very decorative grape vine trellis to add to the feel of his or her garden. Where as a serious grower may just be looking to save money and make a trellis that is more functional than decorative. There are many materials that can be used. These would include iron, pretreated wood, stainless steel, PVC pipe or aluminum. You can buy a decorative grape vine trellis pre-made or make one yourself. Just make sure to leave enough room for future growth. You should plan on about an eight foot square area for each grape vine.
Your grape vine trellis should be constructed and in place before you put any plants in the ground. Taller trellises are normally used in warmer climates. A shorter trellis would give your grapes a better chance of surviving the colder winter climates. The shorter grape vine trellis will normally be about three feet tall and the taller would be closer to eight feet tall.
Make sure that you spend some time planning before you start digging holes! Map the whole trellis system out and consider the lay of the land, the exposure from the sun, and the space requirements for each plant. It is highly recommended that you use cement in each hole to make your trellis solid. After all, it will be years before you see your first harvest, so this will be a permanent structure. Place your poles about eight feet apart. Then you will run two wires along the poles. You should use a rust proof galvanized steel wire. The first will be about three inches from the ground and the second will be at the top. You may attach them with staples or staple nails. You should also run a wire from the top of the end poles to the ground away from the structure to keep it tight.
And of course with the second option of just purchasing a pre-made grape vine trellis, you will still have to do some careful planning. Once your vineyard is started, it can not be moved. Make sure also that your trellis is made of a long lasting material and that it is plenty sturdy.
As your grape vines begin to grow you will have to “train” them to grow in the direction that you want. Use string or cloth to tie the vines to the wires. Do not use wire as it could do damage to the vine.
As with anything, the foundation is normally the most important part of the project. If your grape vine trellis is not sturdy and long lasting, you will be setting yourself up for a disaster. Put in the correct effort now and enjoy the fruits of your labor later!
