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Garden Gate:  Have you grown grapes???  |
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Bee Haven Maven
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
Beverly
Pennsylvania
USA
1862 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 5:03:04 PM
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My hubby and I just built a grape arbor on Saturday and I am planning to plant table grapes to climb over the walls and across the top. Any of you gals growing grapes? Have any secrets or advice for me? I am hoping to someday have an outdoor room with walls and ceiling of delicious grapes? What do you think?
Keep Smiling.....Bev
Bee Haven Acres
http://beehavenacres.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - Bee Haven Maven on Apr 10 2007 11:01:56 AM |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4738 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4738 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 8:01:08 PM
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My dad grew grapes along the south side of his property. He had a nice rustic fence for them to lean on. My dad never babied his grapes. They were very hardy & thrived. We would pick the huge crop every summer & make tons of jam. Boy it was delicious! Good luck with your arbor. I know you'll enjoy it for years!
Dawn in IL |
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livelife
Farmgirl in Training
45 Posts
Penny
Michigan
USA
45 Posts |
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Bee Haven Maven
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
Beverly
Pennsylvania
USA
1862 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 4:18:04 PM
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We are hoping that someday one of our kids might get married under the arbor....that would be beautiful....hopefully now when the honeybees are doing their thing.
Keep Smiling.....Bev
Bee Haven Acres
http://beehavenacres.blogspot.com/ |
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Patsy
True Blue Farmgirl
592 Posts
Illinois
USA
592 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 2:04:08 PM
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My dad also grew grapes. He had two big arbors and if I remember correctly, they didn't take much care. I can't remember when he cut them back but he did sometimes. They were delicious and he had tons on just the two arbors.
May God bless those who love the soil,
Patsy
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 2:24:21 PM
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Beverly-
What type of grapes are you planting? I know different varieties have different tastes so I am curious as to which you chose. I am thinking of trying to get some sort of grape to grow against my back fence this year. Maybe I will try to get Concord grapes since they have such a powerful taste.
Alee
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AliShuShu
True Blue Farmgirl
150 Posts
Alison
Charlotte
NC
USA
150 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 2:44:49 PM
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does anybody know a good grape to grown in NC other than muscadines or scuppernongs? these are the two i remember as being the most popular for the area, but i don't really care for either of them. any suggestions?
thanks!!
Alison
'Be the change you want to see in the world' ~ Namaste'
www.shumusings.com |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 4:39:48 PM
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I don't live in NC.,so I don't have an answer for that. We grew Concord grapes. they make great jam and that is what we did. We ate the too but the skins are very strong and they have a seed, but lucious jam or jelly. and easy, just let them grow. I think we pruned them in early spring. don't know for sure. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com www.holyhouses-day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 6:13:09 PM
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Thanks for the info Marybeth. I think concords have the most intense “grape” flavor of all the common grape varieties. I’m not sure about that though…
Alee
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 4:30:23 PM
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| I inherited 2 different kinds of grapes, don't know what they are though. One is for eating and one you can make juice out of, but the skins are bitter. I was told to prune them every year in early spring down to the second leaf bud. Last year the llamas ate them down clear through early summer and they still grew grapes. To have big lucious full bunches make sure they get enough water. One year I didn't water them much and they were affected worse than being a llama buffet. |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 7:28:50 PM
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I grow a bunch (ha ha) of grapes here in Utah - all cold-hardy wine-types - and we use a trellis system - a two-wire system using cedar posts on the end and for "anchors," and a steel fence post for each individual vine. It's not as charming as an arbor, but it really works well for the grapes. My mom grows Canadice grapes - a table grape variety - and they are WONDERFUL. I'll bet they'll grow in NC, too. You might want to check that one out...
XOXO, Libbie
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar..." - Helen Hayes |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 9:39:09 PM
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What type of flavor do the Canadice grapes have? Are the sweet or sour?
Ciao
Alee |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 9:42:18 PM
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I have been wanting to try grapes here too.. I used to grow concord and some unknown variety of green grapes in calif and loved it...very low care for what you get. I am glad to know that they will grow well in Utah..I don't know a soul here close that grows them (or that talks about growing them at least!) Thanks Libbie!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 9:54:40 PM
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we have some niagara grapes here.
they are a bit on the sour side...but I intend to use them for jelly this year.
oh I hate the scuppernongs ..bitter and woody tasting..they have a very odd flavor and I don't like the muscadines either. We bought some scuppernong juice one time at the grocery store..oh land sakes!we both about gagged(my husband and I) I guess for some it's an "acquired" taste..ha..but I will pass on those..don't care for them at all.I prefer a table grape that is sweet...the Niagaras do have seeds though.
They are a green grape.
I do plan on making jelly with my grapes this year..it looks like I'll wind up gettting a pretty good crop off of them this year..it is about the 5th yr growing them..so far just on one branch area I see about 5 baby mini clusters..I haven't counted all of the "soon to be" clusters on the vines..that was just on one small portion of vine..about 1 ft in length.
Anyhow...we'll have a crop around September...as long as the birds and bugs or other critters don't get to them first.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 10:08:52 PM
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here's a little bit about the niagara grape/they tend to be a bit tart..but are good though.
and I do agree with a previous post..once the little clusters of grapes start to appear on the vine..you'll need to start watering the plants a bit more.(I'd say about every other day..a good shower of about 10 minutes or so with the waterhose)you want to make sure that your foliage remains nice and crisp green and full, not shriveled or dry or browning.
http://www.nationalgrape.com/02c_nia.shtml
here is a fact sheet on growing grapes in the home garden:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1423.html
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 10:37:22 PM
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The Canadice are sweet - good for eating right off the vine, and WONDERFUL in little tartlets...mmmmmm...I can just taste them now! I just love grapes. The house my grandfather grew up in is in the next town to me - he had a grape arbor there (I called that thing a "gray barber" for about the first 15 years of my life until somebody bothered to explain it to me!) covered with Concords. It's still there, and so are the grapes. I just love them, also - Jenny - Concords or Canadice or even some Norton/Cynthiana's might go well at your place...
XOXO, Libbie
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar..." - Helen Hayes |
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smoothiejuice
True Blue Farmgirl
6309 Posts
Jessica
Bloomington
Indiana
USA
6309 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2007 : 06:22:23 AM
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| I have a great grape arbor that was already in existence when we moved to our house. It is a fully covered shaded room in the summers. When it is 100 degrees and humid outside in July, it is a cool 75 or so under the grapes. I live on the last two acres of a giant farm from the 1800's, we love our house and our tiny property. We have been told by the aging locals that these grape have been here for over 100 years. I have no idea what kind these are, we pick them every year and give them to 2 of our friends. One makes wine and shares it with us and the other makes jelly and shares it with us. Once the kids get older I want to do it myself, but cannot seem to manage it right now. It is a really great place to hang out in the summers and ofcourse how I got my seventh child, but that is a whole other story. Be careful, I do not remember what they are called but there is a small black caterpillar that can wipe out your entire crop in it's infant stage in one weekend with out any notice. We have tried just about every organic remedy for this, but last year finally we broke down and use a mild pesticide. It is the only thing I grow that has become non organic in my opinion, but I could not figure out what else to do. So keep your eyes open and if you see tiny tiny tiny black caterpillars, get rid of them right away, do not wait until tomorrow. They are fast and multiply like wild fire. Have fun growing grapes...we hung a "porch" swing at one end of our arbor and since limestone is abundant here we have a big slab table and bench underneath. I planted several bulbs(iris, glads, and lilies of sorts) around the outside in big clumps, some red pie plate hibiscus, a few burning bush(were already here) as well as a few hunks of tall ornamental grass. It is a wonderful getaway, fun to look at and enjoy while growing good things from the earth. |
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Bee Haven Maven
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
Beverly
Pennsylvania
USA
1862 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2007 : 12:46:07 PM
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Sorry it took so long to get back....I planted Concord and Mars and another variety of white table (raisin) grape. Am keeping my fingers crossed that it turns out as I hope. I was thinking of planting some flower vines (annuals) to cover the arbor for this summer since the vines are still small. Anybody have any ideas. I thought morning glories and moon flowers might be nice...what do you gals think?
Keep Smiling.....Bev
Bee Haven Acres
http://beehavenacres.blogspot.com/
http://beehavenmaven.blogspot.com/ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2007 : 1:02:36 PM
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Those grape arbors sound heavenly! It’s amazing- I never really thought of planting grapes before. I know it is silly but I always placed grape arbors on my mental map firmly in California and the east coast.
I am so glad that I get to chat with you ladies. I am really excited to try and find some vine starts to plant in my back yard this year.
Alee
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Bee Haven Maven
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
Beverly
Pennsylvania
USA
1862 Posts |
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Bee Haven Maven
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
Beverly
Pennsylvania
USA
1862 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2007 : 10:38:14 AM
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I just ran to our local K-mart for seeds and found that they had grape vines for sale....I bought two more...they are red seedless and are of the Suffolk variety. Oh this is going to be such a great experiment to see which variety does best and which we enjoy the most. For now, I think I will plant morning glories to cover the arbor until the grape vines take hold. Tina Michelle, thanks for the advice on watering.
Keep Smiling.....Bev
Bee Haven Acres
http://beehavenacres.blogspot.com/
http://beehavenmaven.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - Bee Haven Maven on Apr 18 2007 10:41:03 AM |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2007 : 2:47:14 PM
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The thought of Morning Glories makes me cringe. Around here they are so invasive that they are considered weeds. One year I had a garden with corn and went out one morning to find Morning Glory vines covering my corn!
Alee |
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Bee Haven Maven
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
Beverly
Pennsylvania
USA
1862 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2007 : 6:55:30 PM
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| I think Morning Glories are beautiful and in almost any other climate I would be planting them all over, but this area is wet enough and has rich enough soil that they take over. I bet an arbor covered in them would be gorgeous though! I remember my nanny when I was growing up had them on her garden shed and along her fence. |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2007 : 8:23:38 PM
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There are different kinds of morning glories although they belong to the same family. There is an annual one that is not invasive. they come in blue and red and pink. The white one are usually the invasive ones and are also called bindweed because that is what they do.
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com www.holyhouses-day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
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Garden Gate: Have you grown grapes??? |
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Have you grown grapes???
