Grape
Vitis vinifera
Vigorous climbing vine needing strong support and annual pruning. Choose early-ripening varieties for reliable harvests in cooler regions.
Overview
Companion Planting
Basil
Oregano
ChivesToxicity
Grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure in dogs and cats; the toxic substance is not yet fully identified. Safe for human consumption.
Planting Tips
1 cm of water per m² equals 10 liters. Use the Watering Calculator for exact amounts.
Care Tip: Train vines on a trellis or wire system and prune heavily in late winter to maintain shape, improve airflow, and maximize fruit quality.
Common Pests
Grape Phylloxera
Symptoms: Galls on leaves and roots, stunted vine growth, yellowing foliage, and eventual vine decline.
Treatment: No effective chemical cure for root-feeding forms; replace with vines grafted onto resistant rootstock.
Prevention: Plant phylloxera-resistant rootstocks and avoid moving soil or plant material from infested areas.
Grape Berry Moth
Symptoms: Webbing on flower clusters and berries, larvae tunneling into fruit causing rot and premature drop.
Treatment: Apply targeted insecticides (e.g., spinosad) at bloom and post-bloom; remove infested clusters.
Prevention: Cultivate soil beneath vines in spring to destroy overwintering pupae and maintain open canopy for better spray coverage.
Japanese Beetle
Symptoms: Skeletonized leaves with only veins remaining, reducing photosynthesis and weakening the vine.
Treatment: Hand-pick beetles in small plantings or apply neem oil or carbaryl for larger infestations.
Prevention: Use pheromone traps away from vines and apply milky spore or beneficial nematodes to lawn areas to control grubs.
Common Diseases
Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe necator)
Symptoms: White powdery coating on leaves, shoots, and fruit; infected berries may crack and become susceptible to secondary rot.
Treatment: Apply sulfur-based or potassium bicarbonate fungicides at first sign; systemic fungicides like myclobutanil for severe cases.
Prevention: Ensure good air circulation through proper pruning and canopy management; choose resistant cultivars where possible.
Downy Mildew (Plasmopara viticola)
Symptoms: Oily yellow spots on upper leaf surfaces with white fuzzy growth underneath; severe infections cause defoliation and fruit loss.
Treatment: Apply copper-based fungicides or systemic products like phosphorous acid at early infection stages.
Prevention: Improve airflow by training and pruning vines; avoid overhead irrigation and remove fallen debris in autumn.
Botrytis Bunch Rot (Botrytis cinerea)
Symptoms: Gray fuzzy mold on ripening berries, causing them to shrivel and rot; spreads rapidly in tight clusters.
Treatment: Remove infected clusters immediately; apply fungicides such as fenhexamid or cyprodinil before bunch closure.
Prevention: Open canopy to promote air circulation, thin leaves around fruit zone, and avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization that creates dense foliage.