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Index : Citrus and Other Fruits
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- 3. Grapes Produce Abundant Crop - Top
- Grapes are abundant producers here in Southern Arizona. In fact, not that many years ago, Pinal County to our North was a major producer of table grapes with some 1500 acres of vineyards. Arizona’s wine grape production is centered not far from Tucson in Santa Cruz and Cochise County with commercial vineyards as close as Veil. So, it’s possible to grow a variety of European table and wine grapes in home gardens in and around Tucson.
Probably the most abundant grape variety for Southern Arizona is Thompson Seedless. It’s one of the most popular grapes for eating fresh with a sweet but mild flavor. The berries are medium-sized and the clusters large with greenish white to golden berries. Thompson Seedless is the variety most often used for making raisins. Other recommended table grape varieties include; Cardinal(dark red berries), Perlette (pale green berries), and Flame Seedless (red berries).
If your interested in making wine, several European wine grapes also grow and produce well in our area. Some of the best reds for our hot climate include; Shiraz, Petite Sirah, Barbera, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. Recommended white wine grapes include; Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Pinot Grigio.
Grapes should be planted in a full sun locations and well-drained soils. Test the drainage by digging a hole 12 inches wide and 18 inches deep. Fill the hole with water and let it drain. Fill it a second time and observe how long it takes for the water to drain from the hole. If the water drains out in 48 hours or less, the soil has adequate drainage for growing grapes.
Grapes can be purchased from local garden centers in containers or bare-root from mail-order nurseries. Container grown grapes can be planted Spring through Fall. Bare-root grapes are ordered and planted during the Winter months. Regardless of the type, grapes should be planted directly in unamended soil. No organic amendments should be added at the time of planting. Just dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots, removing any stones or caliche from the hole. Loosen the soil and fill in around the roots.
Grapes can be trained to grow on trellises, arbors or single posts. If your planting several grape vines it’s best to build a trellis using 4 by 4 inch wood posts or heavy metal T posts spaced 15 to 18 feet apart. Two heavy gauge wires are attached to the posts, the first at 36 inches above the ground and the second at 60 inches above the ground. The first wire is used to train the fruiting cane, called the cordon. The second, or upper wire is there to support the fruit-producing shoots.
The most effective method for training and grape production is the unilateral cordon system where grapes are planted 6 feet apart and trained to grow in one direction down the trellising wire. The first growing season, a single shoot is selected to grow up a small supporting stake to the trellising wire and then down the wire in one direction. The grape vine is attached to the support stake and wire with Velcro plant ties or plant tape. In the second season fruiting spurs are developed every 4 to 6 inches along the vine, referred to as a cordon.
Irrigation of the grapes is best accomplished using drip irrigation, with two one-gallon drip emitters placed on either side of each grape plant. Grapes need ample water, especially during the first two or three seasons as they are becoming established. After establishment, grapes will need regular watering from 2 to 4 times weekly during the growing season and fertilization with a high nitrogen fertilizer in early spring and in the fall.
For more information on growing grapes, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: ‘Growing Grapes at Home’, University of Arizona / Pima County Extension, 4210 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson 85719-1109.
Written by John Begeman, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona,
520-626-5161.
- Updated: July 16, 2006
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