Grapes

Don’t for a moment think that growing grapes is beyond you. They can be grown at home virtually all over South Africa, and they should be.

Grapes are such an exotic, luxurious, romantic fruit. Subject them to some mysterious alchemy and they will give you champagne, red wine, white wine, port, sherry, and on and on. But even on their own, in all their glory, grapes are a magnificent thing, crisp and sweet, and oh so delicious.

Growing your own table grapes sounds unachievable, doesn’t it? But with some patience and forethought, you could be cutting verdant bunches of grapes from your own vine, and then enjoying them in the shade of its leaves.

Health benefits of grapes

Grapes offer a plethora of health benefits, which is a relief because it’s hard to stop eating them. Rich in antioxidants like resveratrol, flavonoids and Vitamin C, grapes help combat oxidative stress and inflammation, thereby supporting a healthy immune system and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. The presence of natural compounds like polyphenols in grapes contributes to improved heart health by promoting proper blood circulation, reducing blood pressure and enhancing the function of blood vessels.

They’re also high in fibre and so aid in digestion and support gut health, while the low glycemic index makes grapes a suitable option for those managing blood sugar levels. I had to doublecheck this last one, because it’s hard to believe this of the fruit equivalent of candy!

Including grapes in your diet has also been linked to cognitive benefits, potentially protecting brain health and cognitive function as you age. The best news is that most of these health benefits are true of fresh grapes as well as grape juice and even wine!

Growing grapes

Most table varieties come from the Vitis vinifera species, native to the Mediterranean and Central Asia. Because of where it comes from, grapes prefer dry summers and wet winters, which is why they do so well in the Cape. But as long as they are planted in well-draining soil, preferably on the sandy side, they can do well in the summer-rainfall parts of South Africa as well.

To successfully grow grapes, selecting the right location is crucial. They prefer well-draining soil with good sun exposure, preferably on a slope that prevents waterlogging. They also appreciate protection from frost.

Grape vines are hungry plants due to their vigorous growth habits, so make sure you prepare their planting hole well, and ahead of time. The hole should be dug to about 60cm3 , and a generous amount of compost added along with some organic fertiliser and bonemeal. When planting the vine, plant it slightly deeper than the level it was in the bag. Mulch well around the base of the plant with more compost. After planting, water well. Once established, grapes don’t need too much water, and a moderate watering every two weeks should suffice.

Remember that grape vines are big, vigorous plants, so the support structure needs to be strong enough to bear the weight, be it a fence, trellis or pergola.

Can they be contained? Yes, you can definitely grow grapes in containers, as long as the container is large and the vine still has support. You will need to prune the plant to keep it under control, and obviously you will need to take greater care in terms of watering and feeding.

Growing table grapes in pots

Anyone living outside the Cape grape-growing areas will look at a canopy of grape leaves and wonder if they can have that at home. It turns out that, yes when planted in big enough containers, you can practically grow them anywhere.

Here are some tips for planting grape vines in containers:

Choose a big enough container. It needs to be at least 40-45cm deep and 45-60cm wide. Avoid dark colours that trap heat, wood is an excellent choice like old wine barrels.

Choose the right position with plenty of sunlight.

Choose the right variety. Buy your grape vines from a local nursery in your area. This will ensure the right grape variety will grow in your climate. There are also dwarf varieties for pots if you want to keep them compact.

Well-draining soil. For containers choose a good potting soil and add plenty of compost for added nutrition.

Staking kit. Grapevines will need some sort of support system to clamber up and it’s best to add this at the beginning of planting so as not to damage the roots later on. Use a trellis, stakes and arbour or pergola to tie tendrils onto as they grow and support the stem. The structure needs to be able to support the weight of the vine.

Mulch. Once planted add a layer of mulch to keep in the moisture like bark chips, compost or decorative stone.

Water at least once a week. Protect from frost.

Prune. At planting choose one or two of the strongest canes and cut off the rest. Cut the remaining canes back to leave 2-3 buds. This will build a strong root system and give it the best start. In the second and third years, remove any dead wood and prune to keep its shape.

Feed twice a month during the growing season with an organic 8:1:5 fertiliser and top up the compost in the pot once a year.

Pruning grapevines

In the first few years after planting, focus on training the vine’s structure. Allow a single stem to grow, tying it to the support structure as it grows. Prune away side shoots until the main stem reaches the desired height, then let lateral shoots grow for future fruiting.

Once the plant is established it will need regular pruning in late winter. Grapes are produced on one-year-old canes, so if you prune away too many canes you’ll get lots of new growth but no grapes. And if you don’t prune at all, the plant will have too much old wood which won’t produce grapes either.

Remove old and dead wood to promote new growth.
Trim back the main stems to maintain the desired shape and size of the vine.
Prune lateral shoots that grew the previous year, leaving a few buds.

Grape Varieties to try

Here are a few varieties that we love

‘Hanepoort’: Juicy and with a honey-sweetness, the yellow grapes of this variety are sublime for the table and make an exceptional juice. It does well in summer-rainfall areas but does not like humidity. The fruit is ready for harvest from February to March.

‘Red Globe’: Big, round, firm, dark red grapes that are juicy and crisp make this variety very popular. The vine prefers warm conditions and responds well to feeding and watering. Harvest is mid-summer.

‘Crimson Seedless’: The red skin of the fruit hides a delicate green flesh that is juicy and delicious, and seedless, making it a great snack. This variety grows well locally and the fruit is harvested late in the season, towards the end of summer and into autumn.

‘Catawba’: This is an old classic, originally from America but popular in South Africa. The bright red fruit is sweet and a little tart, and has a thicker skin, making it a great juice grape. This plant is disease resistant and hardy. The fruit is ready for harvesting in mid-summer.