Proper vine cultivation and pruning for maximum grape yield!

No, I'm not talking about producing your own wine, but simply about being able to taste a succulent grape produced... at home! Looking for a few tips on how to maximise production from your vines? Follow the guide!

Choosing a variety according to your climate

If you live in a cold region, then you should avoid late vines and favour early plants that are more resistant to disease, such as Muscat Bleu or Chasselas. In warmer regions, all vines are adaptable, the rest is a matter of taste.

Plant your vine carefully

It's in a sunny spot in your garden and sheltered from the wind that you should plant your vine . This liana with juicy fruit can easily be hung on an arbour or on a trellis along a wall. The young plant should be placed in a generous hole (50 x 50 centimetres), with the grafting point above ground. In slightly sandy, well-drained soil, you will take care to spread the roots.

Vines do not like soils that are too wet. It can be planted from October onwards and plants should be two metres apart. As the vine is self-fertile, a single plant will also produce grapes. The root ball must be well hydrated before being planted. A good watering completes the operation.

Very simple maintenance

The vine is highly resistant to disease, with the exception of mildew, which must be prevented with Bordeaux mixture. Once in the ground, it requires little maintenance. Scratching the soil in winter and mulching in summer provides good protection. Accompanying the vine with aromatic plants such as lavender or sage is also a good way of keeping it healthy. As it grows, it is advisable to trellis it well against the wall to allow it maximum extension.

The secret is in the pruning

Good pruning of your vine guarantees good fruiting. It should be pruned twice a year, in late winter and early summer. In winter, the gardener locates the most promising buds on the current year's branches. The oldest buds are removed, as they are not fertile. This pruning is also used to remove dead branches. Summer pruning consists of keeping only the most attractive bunches. The smallest are removed, as are the bare shoots. If the leaves are covering the bunches then it's a good idea to remove some of them so that the fruit gets maximum sunlight.

Tasting the fruit

The harvest takes place from August and sometimes until October by cutting the bunches with secateurs. The berries can be eaten directly. They can also be used to garnish mixed salads (lettuce, grapes, Roquefort). Grapes can be enjoyed in a thousand ways, in pies, ice cream, clafoutis...