Grape Planting

Bunches of morsels filled with sweet, juicy goodness -- that is what most people think of grapes. Grapes are actually berries, and grow in bunches numbering between six and an amazing 300 individual fruits. Certain varieties are used for making wine, and others are meant for eating.

Those meant for wine are called wine grapes, and those grown for eating as-is are called table grapes. Grapes are grown all over the world. Being one of the most popular fruits all over the world, a branch of plant science has been devoted to grapes. Viticulture deals with everything about grapes: from old breeds to new hybrids, from seed to harvest, and everything else about grape planting.

Centuries of growing grapes has yielded fruitful results. Now the question of how grape planting should be done is preceded by the question "What do you plan to use them for?" This question refers to whether you plan to grow wine grapes or table grapes. The methods are mostly the same, but the difference lies in the specific requirements.

Table grapes are the simpler of the two. Table grapes are expected to be juicy and sweet. We also expect them to have smooth and unblemished skins, and have plump, full appearances. The first step to ensuring this is to make sure the soil is rich and fertile, and if it is not, make it so.

More nutrients means the grapes will grow larger and faster. Grapes have a lot of water, so a steady flow of water is needed by table grapes. On the other hand, grapevines do not fare well when soaked in water, so make sure that the soil is loose enough or has enough sand to ensure good drainage.

Fertilizers may be used to make the soil richer, but be careful when doing so. The grapes' flavor is affected by whatever chemicals there are in the soil, so care must be taken when using fertilizers. Excessive fertilizers or the wrong kind of fertilizers can make the resulting crop bitter or sour. Picking them at the peak of ripeness means you get the sweetest, juiciest fruits. Pick too soon and you will get sour grapes. Do not pick them too late either, as they would start losing water and spoil too quickly.

Grape planting for wine follows the same basic steps as table grapes. Differences lie in the soil to be used, the amount of water to give, and special techniques applied to wine grapes. There are a many different kinds of wine, each coming from specific kinds of grapes. These grapes will have different requirements to develop the flavors and characteristics sought after in wine.

Sweeter wine grapes produce lighter, sweeter wines. These wines would often have lower alcohol contents than the darker counterparts. Grapes grown for these wines require soil similar to that of table grapes. They will also have quite a bit more water in them, and this result in lighter-bodied wines with sharper notes.

The other way to go with wine grapes is to grow them in harsh conditions. Grapes grown in poor soil, cool climates, and with little water are smaller but have strong flavors. These concentrated grapes are then used to produce wine that has more complex layers of flavor, fuller bodies, and headier bouquets. They will not be as sweet, and also often have higher alcohol volumes.

An interesting technique to note is green harvest, where immature bunches of grapes are picked. With its potential for the next generation decreased in number, the plant then puts its effort into making the remaining grapes as best as they could be.

This is useful in regions where ideal conditions produce grapes in huge quantities, but with little character. If you are interested in knowing more, other techniques and specifics on grape planting can be found in books and the World Wide Web.

Eddy Lee is grape growing and wine making expert. For more great tips on grapes planting and make wine visit http://www.winemakinganswers.com