Grape vines are very useful multi-purpose plants for the garden. They are an attractive way to cover an ugly fence, or to make shade under a pergola, with beautifully formed leaves which color in the fall and clusters of grapes that can just be picked and eaten, turned into delicious jellies, or even made into your own wines. The only problem is that most grape varieties prefer warmer weather and can be sensitive to winter cold. However that problem has been solved with the Niagara Grape, which is a delicious white grape that will grow in the cold parts of the country right down into zone 5.

So now, unless you live in the coldest northern parts of the mid-west, you can easily grow your own grapes and enjoy the feeling of success and independence that comes from growing your own food. If you prefer a red grape, then the Concord Grape is a close relative of the Niagara Grape and is even a little hardier, so it is an excellent red grape variety to choose. Why not grow both so you can enjoy red and white grapes and have more choices?

Growing Niagara Grapes

The Niagara Grape is easy to grow in most soils that are well-drained and will grow well even in poor, rocky soils. It is drought tolerant once established, quick growing and although grapes do have some pests or diseases, these are more of a problem for commercial growers and can usually be simply managed in a home garden should they occur.

Varieties of grapes developed from the European grape are not very hardy in colder regions, so early American farmers developed their own varieties from an American grape species, Vitis labrusca, called ‘bunch grapes’. These hardy varieties are versatile, as they are good for eating, juicing, making jelly and also for wine. Concord are the main white variety of this grape species.

Uses on Your Property

Grapes grow on sturdy vines that produce long canes that will cling to any support, from a fence to a tree. If you have a south or west-facing fence that you want to hide, then the Niagara grape will easily cover it with attractive foliage all summer long. If you have a pergola structure a grape vine is an ideal way to make it shady and a pleasant place to relax, eat lunch or throw a party. If you want to divide your garden into areas, perhaps to separate your vegetable garden from the flowers, then grape vines growing on wires are an easy and edible way to do that.

Support

The Niagara Grape is a climbing vine with strong stems that become quite thick with age. The stems twine around any support and young stems also have tendrils, which are modified leaves that curl around anything they come into contact with. Older stems are covered with a peeling, brown bark. The leaves are large, up to 8 inches long and as much across, and are hand-shaped, with scalloped edges. Your Niagara Grape is very fast growing and once established new shoots will cover a complete arbor in one season. The leaves are green and turn yellow or bronzy in fall. Bunches of grapes grow along new shoots that grow from stems that grew in the previous year. These grape-bunches will ripen in fall and you will have a large harvest just from one or a few vines.

If you do not have an existing support available, grapes can be grown on wires stretched between sturdy wooden poles. One of the simplest methods is to drive 6 inch poles into the ground, allowing 16 feet between them. Two wires are stretched between the poles with one 5 or 6 feet off the ground and the other 2½ or 3 feet off the ground. The vines are planted 4 feet apart, on either side of the poles, so there will be 4 vines between each pair of poles. They are trained to grow along the wires so that each vine has 4 ‘arms’. For an arbor, plant a vine at opposite corners, or at each corner for lager arbors. For a fence, allow 4 to 10 feet between plants.

Planting and Initial Care

Choose a sunny spot to grow your grape vine and a south-facing area, preferably on a slope rather than in a hollow, is the best location. When you are ready to plant dig a hole 2 or 3 times wider than the pot and mix in some organic material. Place your plant in the hole at the same depth it was in the pot, put back most of the soil and fill the hole with water. When the water has drained away replace the rest of the soil. Water your new grape vine once a week during the first growing season and then as needed during dry weather.

Pruning

Pruning is necessary to get the biggest yield and to control the size of your plants. When the plants are young develop a framework on your support system, leaving stems in permanent positions. Once you have a framework, pruning should be done in late winter and you should prune hard, removing most of the growth from the previous year. Cut canes back to the framework you have developed on the wires or your arbor and just leave 3 to 4 buds per foot on the old stems of your framework.

Buying Niagara Grape Vines

The Niagara Grape is a special variety that must be grown from named parent plants of the correct variety. Our vines are produced from stem cuttings of these special plants. Grapes cannot be grown from seed as the resulting plants will be inferior, so beware of seedling or unnamed plants that will just disappoint you. We sell vines that are true to the original form and we always give you the right plant for your needs. Because we frequently renew our stock so our customers get fresh, healthy plants, supplies of this variety may be limited. To avoid disappointment order now.