There are so many ways to grow grapes it can feel a bit overwhelming, but the method you choose can greatly impact your harvest. I want to give you some trellis ideas as well as show the one I’m using to grow my own grapes for the best yield possible.
I’ve had some success with growing grapes before but this time I’m taking lessons I’ve learned and applying them so I get it right the beginning. This will give my grapes the best chance of success and let me enjoy more table grapes.
Why You Need a Trellis
Grapes are large vining plants that need some support to attach to. If they don’t have a solid support structure they will just sprawl along the ground and the following things may occur:
- Less vigorous growth.
- Grapes may rot on ground.
- More susceptible to disease.
By providing a solid structure to grow on we can improve airflow to reduce disease, increase light availability for all areas of the plant improving growth and keep the fruit well off the ground to avoid the risk of rot.
How High Should a Grape Trellis Be?
There are many varieties of grapes that grow to different sizes and so there is no set height for a grape trellis. However grapes generally can grow quite large up to 4m tall and wide.
If growing on an arbour for shade, it should be taller than your head, especially as grapes will drape down from above. If you want more grapes, then a longer, taller trellis allows more room for growth and thus fruit. You generally don’t want to climb a ladder to harvest them though so I would recommend they be within arms reach.
Trellis Location
Grapes like full sun and can pretty much take all they can get. For this reason your trellis should be positioned with this in mind. The more sunlight the plant receives, the more fruit you are going to get in return.
Grape Trellis Ideas
A classic use of grapes is growing on an arbour to provide shade over a patio. In summer the grapes will provide shade and in winter they will lose their foliage allowing light back in. If you an existing arbour in place, this is a perfect opportunity to grow some grapes there.
You can also grow over an arch or something smaller in the garden, keeping in mind they have the potential to grow quite large.
If you are shorter on space in your yard, growing along a fence or wall can be an efficient option. You can attach a wire or other trellis system directly to your fence or build one just off it.
Easy DIY Grape Trellis
I wanted to make a trellis suitable for max grape production but also easy for me to put together. I’m not that good at DIY and though I am improving, I wanted it to be simple enough to build without any cementing or woodwork needed. I chose to build it slightly off the fence because I wanted a little better airflow.
Materials Needed
I used tools and materials that were all laying around from other projects including:
- Star pickets (T posts)
- Wire
- Hammer
- Wire cutters
I started by putting in 3 star pickets which would form the middle and ends of my trellis. To stop the poles from being pulled over when under tension from the wire, I used star pickets in the corners.
The trellis is around 3.5m wide and 1.5m tall, I would make it around 2m tall but these were the tallest poles I had. These dimensions will give my grape room to grow out while allowing me to easily pick any fruit.
I left around 15cm between each horizonal run. This will allow good airflow but still provide plenty of wire for lateral growth to grow on. You can change the spacing between the wires to allow more or less light and airflow depending on your conditions.
I just used wire I had laying around to make the horizontal runs the lateral growth will grow on. It’s not super tight but it will do the job.
The braces are already wedged into place and are not moving but I decided to tie them to the post with wire for extra stability.
This is a very simple but effective trellis system anybody can put together very quickly and cheaply. It is modular and can be made as tall or as long as you want.
How to Train Grape Vines on a Trellis
I planted the grape as close to the centre pole so it can immediately grow up to the top of the trellis without wasting distance. I chose the longest vine to be the leader and cut off the other branches. Leave some foliage on the branches when you trim them, don’t cut right at the stem. This will allow those leaves to produce energy your plant needs to grow.
The plan is to train a single leader up the pole until it reaches the top wire. Then I will cut the top off which will promote side laterals to grow along the wires. These laterals will grow on the wires and be the foundation of where my grapes can grow and hang off.
Conclusion
Building a sturdy trellis is essential for successful grape growth. It can be as fancy or as basic as you want depending on your skills and budget. This approach using star pickets and wire is cheap, practical and effective. By properly training grapevines, including planting near the centre pole and pruning for lateral growth, you are on your way to picking grapes fresh from the vine.
If you’ve got a trellis system that works for you, share it with us!
