| Ask anyone who grows grapes and they will | | | | roots have good drainage. |
| tell you that it is a long and difficult | | | | |
| process to produce quality wine. Follow these | | | | 7. Grape plants don’t need a lot of |
| tips and you will be amazed at how delicious | | | | watering, but in the dry seasons (Spring and |
| your wine turns out. | | | | Summer, depending on the amount of rain) |
| | | | grape plants need to be watered at least once |
| 1. Check with the local horticultural society | | | | a week. |
| to see which grapes are best to plant in your | | | | |
| area before planting anything. Grape plants | | | | 8. Stop watering once the grapes start to |
| often take years to bear fruit, and it's best | | | | change color. They will not need to be |
| to know ahead of time if your crop will turn | | | | watered again until Autumn, when the leaves |
| out so you can avoid wasting time. | | | | fall off. Then, water once more just before |
| | | | the ground freezes to get the plants through |
| 2. If you purchase grape rootstock you should | | | | the winter. |
| soak the roots in water for a day so they | | | | |
| don’t dry out. Then, dig a shallow | | | | 9. To protect your vines from birds and |
| trench to keep them in until the vine can be | | | | pests, use at least two different sized, |
| permanently placed. | | | | overlapping nets to cover the plants. The |
| | | | first net should be a plastic bag like the |
| 3. Plant your grapes in an area where they | | | | ones potatoes come in. However for the second |
| will get plenty of sunshine throughout the | | | | you will need to go to a gardening supply |
| day. Grapes need A LOT of sunshine, so makes | | | | store and purchase a gardening net. |
| sure they’re planted in the sunniest | | | | |
| plot you can manage. | | | | 10. Pruning is the most important part of |
| | | | growing wine grapes. Plants will need to be |
| 4. Make sure you leave at least 8 feet | | | | pruned every year in early spring or late |
| between each vine when planting the | | | | winter. If you neglect your pruning duties, |
| rootstock, as grapes need ample room to grow | | | | the grapes will grow and ripen unevenly. |
| and flourish. | | | | However, pruning is a very delicate process |
| | | | and all beginners should research the process |
| 5. You will need to train your vines on a | | | | before trying it out for the first time. |
| trellis to insure they grow evenly. You may | | | | |
| need to move them around a lot at first to | | | | 11. When the grapes begin to ripen, check the |
| keep them growing right. | | | | sugar and pH levels frequently to get the |
| | | | perfect crop. Again, do plenty of research on |
| 6. Have you ever wondered why you often see | | | | your particular strain of grape and proper |
| grape vines planted on a slope? This is | | | | levels to be sure you know what you're doing. |
| because it provides optimal drainage. In | | | | This also depends on what your particular |
| order for the grapes to grow properly, the | | | | tastes are and what kind of wine you’re |
| vines need to be planted in an area where the | | | | making. |