How do you take care of a grape vine??

Question

i have a grape vine in my yard but since it is in bad condition the leaves are all chewed up from bugs and the grapes are very unhealty. how can i take care of my grape vine so that by next summer the grapes will be good enough to eat and make things with them??

Answer 1

water it

Answer 2

Grow the vine along an arbor or in long rows over wires, &  prune for fruit growth.  You want to ensure the grapes are in the full sun as much as possible. During the summer  remove the leaves which are covering or shading the grapes. You want to make sure you don’t remove too many leaves or there won’t be enough food production to feed the grapes.

http://www.gardensheds.greenhouses.arbor...

http://orchards-fruit-gardening.suite101...

"During the first season, the primary objective for grapevine growth is development of a healthy root system and straight trunk. After setting the vine, prune it to one stem and cut this stem back to two or three buds. When new growth begins and the first shoots from the two-bud cane reach 6 to 10 inches in length, select the most vigorous and prune away the others. Tie the shoot gently to the training stake several times during the first season. Pinch lateral shoots back to the leaf growing from the main shoot. This allows the main shoot to grow more rapidly, possibly saving as much as a year in establishing a healthy vine." This further explains the different systems of pruning & training you can  use after the first year:

http://www.tricountyfarm.org/oregon_grap...

"Grapes should be cut back every fall to produce good healthy clumps of grapes. If not, they tend to be sparce and smaller. Neglected grapes can be trimmed back quite a bit, back to one or two stalks 4 ft high with good results, thereafter trimming suckers."

http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums...

These sites have more explanations, photos & illustrations on trellising:

http://www.avalonwine.com/trellising-the...

http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/Viticulture/I...

These videos show how to prune grape vines:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlJeN3pnh...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zseYDE08b...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u82y2nhw-...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JOTRbUod...

Good luck!!!   Hope this is helpful.