Grape Vine

Clusters of sweet grapes can be dripping from your own backyard grapevine with some attentive care and planning. Grape vines not only produce sweet and versatile fruits, they add an element of drama to a garden or landscape. A well-maintained grapevine can live up to 100 years. Adjusting irrigation based on weather and soil conditions, and paying particular attention to pruning needs will give your grapevine a good shot at a long and productive life. Irrigate the grapevine during periods of little rain. Increase irrigation for an older vine and a vine growing in sandy soil, but decrease watering for a grapevine in clay soil. Apply nitrogen at the rate of 1 ounce of nitrogen per grapevine plant annually. The best time to fertilize is after buds appear but before the fruit develops. Too much fertilizer can lead to overgrowth of vegetation and decreased fruit quality.