Build a solid grape support and grow wonderful grapes (free info
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Like many, we wanted to grow grapes, and like many, that dream always ended in disappointment, as the grapes would come on and then dry up before they matured. We did the typical 4 x 4 posts with wire strung between them, but after the first few years, when the grapes were really starting to take off, the post was crooked, the wire was sagging, and no matter what we did, the vines kept touching the ground.
While touring the Amish country, we began to notice one more step they take to support their grapes. They use post-and-wire, but they take one additional step. At about 54” high, they run a solid pipe through the post and drill through and bolt it at each post.
Description / Build a solid grape support and grow wonderful grapes (free info
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Build solid grape support and grow excellent grapes
By Paul & Liz Stevens
When we moved to Texas, we decided to take that next step and built our new support using three posts set so that we could run a 20’ 1-1/2” galvanized chain link fence top rail through the post. This meant we had to subtract 4” off each end of the 20’ so that the pole would go from end to end, with one post in the center. Before we set the posts, we wedged them plum and used a string level on our chalk line and snapped a line-level at 54” high, then another line where we wanted the top to be. We numbered the posts, took each one back out, and drilled straight through the center of each post on our drill press using the chalk line as our horizontal center point. We used the next size up of Forstner bit from the pole size to allow a bit of wiggle room. We then drilled a series of 3/8” holes in each post, spaced 16” apart, starting at 12” from the ground. This is where we ran our wire through to anchor the vines as they climb up the central pole. We cut the post to length and set the post back into the ground. With some extra hands we went ahead and slid the pole through the tops, drilled through the end post and bolted them, after we had the end post plumb, we plumbed the center post and drilled and bolted it.
We set the post with just a little bit of concrete to fill the post hole, plus we only needed to go down around 2’. With this system all the tension is held by the pipe at the top, so we didn’t need to attack it with a 3’ deep hole and several bags of concrete. That was our first clue that we were really going to like this approach, a lot less work! To add a touch of flair to the project, we purchased ball tops and screwed them into the tops of each post. After the post cured, we ran our wire through the holes. Having the pole across the top keeps the post solid, so we could really stretch the wire without worrying about pulling the post inward.
We started our grapes and carefully nurtured them as they grew to the top. We chose Muscadine Grapes because someone living in the Florida Panhandle suggested them. They have much of the same climate as we do in central coastal Texas and have tried several varieties from up North with no success, except for the Muscadine. That said, where you live will largely determine which varieties thrive in your climate.
Well with all this work we thought we were ready to cash in on a great grape crop, nope after they started to really mature about five years ago, the same old story, they came on strong and then just shriveled up like a pea and dropped off. We have them in the irrigation system, so we knew they were getting plenty of water. We noticed a fungus on the leaves and would spray, but it didn’t really help either.
As we drove through Texas, we would always admire the excellent grape vineyards and wonder just what the secret was that we were missing. As we began to look closer, we noticed there were no leaves up to around 3’ from the ground. At first, we thought this was just because the plants were more mature. We went home and peeled off all the leaves near the ground, so new growth wouldn't come out at that level. We also fertilized the plants, and to our surprise, the fungus went away, the plants filled out, and the grapes came on, stayed, and we had a great crop that year. This year will mark our 3rd year with a strong crop of grapes. Last year, from four plants spread across that 20-foot section, we harvested enough grapes to make jelly and nearly five gallons of wine.
In total, it has been eight years since we planted our grapes, the support is still as plumb and straight as the day we installed it, and it appears it will be that way for some time. We are really sold on this system, as for what made the grapes finally take off, we are not sure which has more benefit, the removal of the leaves or the fertilizer, but we plan to keep a good thing going. Hope this helps someone else having the same problems with their grapes.