Despite the fact that grapes are traditionally classified as garden crops, it is quite possible to grow them at home. All you have to do is let it curl around your balcony. Of course, in order to grow grapes on the balcony, you must comply with the necessary requirements regarding planting and care.
Caring for grapes in this case will require a little more effort than growing this crop in the garden. Meanwhile, all the efforts will pay off when green vines decorate the balcony railings, and harvesting can be done without leaving your own apartment.
This article will discuss how to successfully grow grapes on the balcony and indoors.
What should it be?
Grapes are a very heat-loving plant and grow only in hot countries. If the balcony is located on the shady side, then it will be impossible to get a harvest on it. The vine will send out new loops to reach the sunlight and heat. Conclusion - the loggia or balcony should face the south or southwest side and be glazed.
It is better to cover the side walls of the balcony with reflective foil. This way the sun's rays will fall on the leaves of the grapes and give warmth. If you cover the windows with foil, you can create favorable conditions for the development and fruiting of any grape variety.
Exquisite homemade grapes - an indoor plant of all times
The culture is an evergreen climbing vine.
It belongs to the Grape family. In its natural environment it is found in South America, Australia, Africa, and Asia. Growing in tropical forests, the plant loves diffused light, moderate moisture and windless areas. The scientific name of the plant is cissus. Biologists count a huge number of its varieties. The following varieties are considered the most popular for home cultivation :
- "Antarctic" (heart-shaped foliage with jagged edges);
- “Quadrangular” (dense shoots, trilobed leaf plates);
- “Two-color” (the front side of the sheet is dark green and covered with grayish blotches, the back side has a dark burgundy tint);
- “Rhombolic” (the plate consists of 3 elements in the form of a diamond, covered with dark red fibers).
Most of them have their mustaches transformed into suction cups. Thanks to this, the indoor plant - home grapes - confidently masters the “open spaces” of the living space. Being in a closed space, it, as a rule, does not bloom. The stems have a fragile structure. Therefore, experts advise growing it in one place.
A similar crop is Tetrastigma Voinier, which is distinguished by thick stems, large foliage and a length of up to 30 m. The plant is usually grown in spacious greenhouses located on the territory of botanical gardens.
Which varieties are best?
There are two varietal groups of grapes.
- Decorative. There are about 10 types of this grape, but ivy, attached or virginia are suitable for growing on the balcony. They can withstand frost and sudden temperature changes and are easy to care for. They reach a height of up to 10 m, have green leaves, blue-black fruits with a light ash coating.
- Fruit. There are a huge number of varieties here, but not all of them are suitable for growing in an apartment. Vigorous, unpretentious varieties with resistance to frost and disease have proven themselves well. These primarily include Isabella, Lidia and Moldova. All of them need timely and proper care, but withstand unfavorable environmental conditions well.
If you are not sure about the choice of variety, then when purchasing planting material, be sure to ask the seller whether the variety you like can be grown in an apartment.
Important! Almost all grape varieties are self-pollinating plants (the flowers are bisexual). But there are several varieties that require pollen. For example, Madeleine Angevin, Magarach No. 414, Russian Concord. It is important to understand that such species are not suitable for growing in apartment conditions.
Classification
The plant belongs to the class of vines and has a length of up to 15 meters. Depending on the variety, the leaves can have different shapes and colors - from yellow to dark purple and crimson.
The two most common classes are tri-leaf and five-leaf grapes. The first is similar to ivy and is clearly recognizable by its three-lobed multi-colored leaves.
Tripointed wild grapes
The five-leaf plant pleases with its green living curtain all summer and only in the fall it acquires a bright red color. The leaves themselves have an oval, five-pointed shape.
What do you need to know?
How does it reproduce?
Grapes are an interesting perennial crop. The liana can be propagated by layering, seeds, and cuttings. The first two methods are considered complex and are rarely used in practice. The most convenient method of propagation is cuttings.
There is another way - growing seedlings from green cuttings. This method is good because it allows you to manipulate green, blossoming shoots.
Green cuttings are done like this:
- During the planned spring or summer chasing, blanks are broken off from adult branches, on each of which 2-3 buds should be visible.
- Then remove the leaves and place the cuttings in a container with 2/3 water.
- The first roots will appear in 1-1.5 months and the plant is ready for planting. Transplant them into separate vessels. After the sprouts have become stronger, plant them in a permanent place.
Reference! The grape plant has its own “personal calendar” or annual development cycle. The cycle consists of two phases - vegetation and winter dormancy. The first phase is the active development and fruiting of the plant, and the second is the period from leaf fall to the new growing season.
In open ground
To understand how to plant on a balcony, you need to know approximately how to do it in open ground. Planting grapes in the ground means choosing the right place. The main thing here is to choose an area that is slightly darkened and protected from northern winds. The liana grows greatly, so it requires support and a lot of space. The powerful root system grows several meters deep: it is important to position the vineyard so that groundwater is no more than 2 meters from the surface of the earth. Based on this, it becomes clear what conditions must be met when planting grapes on the balcony.
Beneficial and harmful properties of grapes
Such a berry as grapes is known to every person. But not everyone knows about the beneficial properties. I thought about it and realized that I knew nothing about this issue. I decided to fix it right away, and was pleasantly surprised that there were so many positive things:
- Raises the level of nitric oxide in the blood, thereby preventing the formation of blood clots. As a result, consumption serves as a prevention against heart attacks.
- Normalizes heart rate and blood pressure. And here a pattern can be traced: it is equally useful both with low and high blood pressure.
- Helps with gastrointestinal problems, constipation, indigestion and other similar problems.
- Increases energy production, stimulates and tunes the body to work, helps cope with chronic fatigue and fatigue.
- The composition includes antioxidants that have a rejuvenating effect, have a restorative and anti-inflammatory effect.
- Consumption cleanses the body, removing waste, toxins, heavy metals and even radical compounds. In general, we ate and immediately cleansed ourselves.
- Thanks to grapes, the body is saturated with B vitamins. Thanks to this, hematopoiesis improves.
- It also improves complexion and skin condition. An important factor, especially for women. After all, there are enough problems with both.
- The berry contains a large amount of calcium, phosphorus, and riboflavin. These components improve nails, hair, teeth and bones.
Author's note
Natalia Papanova
Blog author
On average, consume up to 300 g of grapes per day.
You can find a complete list of useful properties in the video below:
If we talk about harmful properties, it is noted that they exist only if there are contraindications for use. So, it is not recommended to eat grapes if you have:
- gastric ulcer (during exacerbation);
- duodenal ulcer;
- diarrhea;
- diabetes;
- overweight or obesity.
The beneficial properties of the fruit do not disappear even after storage. To enjoy berries in winter, learn how to store grapes at home.
You should not eat grapes if you have an individual intolerance to the product.
How to plant on loggias step by step?
Next, we will consider the planting process using the example of virgin and fruit grape varieties step by step.
Maiden
In order for maiden (wild) grapes to decorate your balcony, you need to prepare everything necessary for planting it and properly caring for it.
Pot and raw materials
For each plant, it is better to prepare an ordinary clay pot with a volume of 30 to 60 liters. But if you don’t have such a container on hand, then the usual 12 liters will do. bucket.
True, in the near future you will still have to transplant it into a large container, since grapes need a significant amount of land for normal growth.
Everyone has the right to decide for themselves what exactly to plant cuttings or seedlings, but it is best to buy only grafted seedlings in pots. Plants in plastic bags have weak roots, which are very difficult to work with and they rarely take root even with careful care.
Soil and watering
Fill the bottom of the container with crushed leaves, dry twigs, bark, and a thin layer of humus or manure. The roots will grow more freely in such a loose layer. The soil must be formed from equal parts, namely from mature compost, meadow sandy loam and loamy soil, and peat substrate.
After planting the seedlings, water the soil generously. Then water 1-2 times a week, while monitoring the soil moisture - it should always be slightly moist.
Important! There is no need to overwater, otherwise fungus will appear and the plant will get sick.
fruit
Vessel and material
Here you also decide for yourself what to plant - seedlings or cuttings, where to get it - buy or germinate it yourself. The main thing is that when planting, no stains or damage are noticeable on the roots, since most likely the vine is sick and such material is not suitable for planting. More details about seedling diseases in a separate article.
The principle of planting ordinary grapes is no different from planting them in open ground. The only difference is that you need to plant it strictly in the center of the pot, and then cover it with a jar to retain moisture. Typically, rooting takes 2-3 weeks, after which the jar can be removed.
You also need to prepare a ceramic pot or wooden box with a volume of 100-120 liters, 40-60 cm deep. Make several holes at the bottom to drain excess liquid.
Soil and irrigation
Cover the bottom with expanded clay or crushed stone. Then fill the container with enriched soil and sand in equal quantities. The optimal soil for grapes is written in a separate article.
After planting the seedling, water the soil generously. Monitor the humidity level: young grapes need to be watered approximately once a week.
Apartment care
Wild
Next we will talk about how to care for virgin grapes at home.
Trimming
There are no special instructions on how to refine it here. From time to time you only need to trim off limp and dried branches and leaves. Activities will help the vine look neat and have a beautiful crown. For the winter you need to give it a neat appearance and form the desired shape for next year.
Water and fertilizer
The plant needs to be watered approximately once a week. Sprinkle tree bark or pine needles over the soil to retain moisture for as long as possible.
In spring and early summer, feed the grapes with 40-50 g of nitroammophoska. The agricultural chemical will enhance the growth of the plant.
Important! When the active growing season begins, stop feeding.
Transfer
The new container should be much larger than the previous one. Every year the grapes will require more soil and larger containers. For example, 3-year-old plants should be transplanted into a sufficiently long, wide and deep container. You need to be prepared for the fact that the container will take up a large area of the balcony. Replant plants carefully so as not to damage the root system.
Ordinary
Bush formation
The formation of a bush is carried out according to the same principle as in open ground. It is necessary to trim off rapidly growing side shoots. At the same time, trim them back to healthy wood.
When pruning, you yourself determine what the bush will be like, but you should take into account that most likely the vine will grow against the wall, so it is best to give preference to a large fan formation.
Moisturizing and feeding
Water only dry soil. Avoid overfilling to avoid causing fungal diseases and mold.
In spring and June, apply mineral, nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Follow the instructions. When the berry ripening period begins, stop watering and fertilizing.
Increase in container
Strictly monitor the development of the grapes. If the plant no longer has enough space, then it needs to be replanted.
There are several ways to find out when to transplant grapes into another container. But the simplest one is when you use a transparent container you can easily see the growth of the roots. When the roots have almost reached the walls, it is time to transplant.
Important! If the roots are brown or black, then you should stop watering for 14-17 days.
Top dressing
When growing grapes at home in a pot before flowering, it is recommended to give the plant phosphorus-potassium fertilizer. When the grapes bloom, for better self-pollination, it is recommended to lightly tap the shoots several times a day. You can also resort to artificial pollination using cotton wool or a soft brush.
Fruiting grape bushes are fed once every 2 weeks, alternating feeding with mullein infusion or green fertilizer and fertilizing with complete mineral fertilizer.
When the harvest is harvested, the grapes are cut, transplanted into another container and stored in a cool room for the rest period.
When the grape buds wake up and begin to grow, the plants are brought into the room or onto the loggia. How to grow grapes at home in a pot is not at all difficult. The main thing is to have the desire and the necessary conditions.
How to winter?
Maiden grapes in the dormant stage also need some care. The stems are carefully removed, the root system remains in place. The room temperature must be at least +10°C. It is better to cover the container with polyethylene or other agrofibre. Water rarely and lightly, avoiding overflow. Some gardeners move the dormant plant into a room where there is humid air.
Regular (fruit) grapes are sent for the winter under the same conditions as virgin grapes. However, many vineyard lovers argue that too cold and too hot rooms are equally destructive for the vine. If a person has firmly decided to grow grapes on a covered balcony, then he should insulate the walls, ceiling and floor of the loggia.
Growing decorative grapes on a balcony or loggia is a labor-intensive and consistent process. Caring for a liana is a painstaking year-round job. Following the recommendations and advice will allow you to see the desired result. If a person is ready for all the upcoming difficulties, then his efforts will be pleasantly rewarded. Grapes will not only decorate the appearance of the apartment, but will also provide delicious, exquisite fruits.
Temperature
The stems of most varieties are quite frost-resistant. They can easily withstand frosts of 20–30 degrees. At the same time, the root system of grapes is very delicate. In the natural environment, it goes deep into the soil below the freezing level of the soil. Consequently, the soil on the balcony can freeze completely.
Problems can be avoided if you place the tub with the bush on a fully glazed balcony. It is also recommended to insulate the walls and floors. It is advisable that the temperature on the balcony in the cold season does not fall below zero, but does not exceed +10 degrees, otherwise the grapes may awaken ahead of time. It is not recommended to bring a tub with a plant into a warm room when cold weather sets in, as it can harm the crop. This is due to the fact that wintering buds do not tolerate changes in temperature and humidity.
Also in winter, care must be taken to ensure that the soil with grape bushes does not dry out. To do this, experts advise mulching the soil. It should also be moistened occasionally with a spray bottle. It is not recommended to cover bushes growing on the balcony with plastic wrap, as this can harm the grapes.
