Culture
Best grown in deep, loamy, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including average garden soils, but must have good drainage. Best sited in a location sheltered from winter winds (preferably a southern facing slope) and well removed from frost pockets. Self-pollinating. Grapes need a support system, training, regular spraying and regular pruning to maximize fruit production.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Vitis is a genus of about 65 species of woody vines. Hybrid grapes are grown for a variety of purposes, primarily for making wine, but also as fresh fruit from the vine or dried as currants, raisins or sultanas. Vines are infrequently grown for ornamental purposes only.
The genus name Vitis is the Latin name for the old-world vineyard grape (Vitis vinifera).
'Ravat 51' is a French-American hybrid grape variety that is commonly grown for wine production. This is a white wine grape that is used to produce a variety of different wines from dry white to sweet dessert wines. Panicles of fragrant, greenish flowers in spring bloom later than most wine grape varieties, thus making this variety less susceptible to damage from late frosts. Flowers are followed by clusters of small green grapes that ripen in mid-season. Large, shallowly-three-lobed, green foliage. Flowers are attractive to bees. Ripe fruit is attractive to birds, mammals and some hornets and wasps. Commonly sold under the name VIGNOLES.
Problems
Grapes are high maintenance plants that require regular pruning, structural support, and pesticide treatments to produce significant yields. Grapes are susceptible to a large number of diseases, particularly in humid summer climates, including anthracnose, black rot, downy and powdery mildew, crown gall and botrytis bunch rot. Insect pests include phylloxera, grape berry moth, Japanese beetle, leaf hopper, leaf roller, mealy bugs and flea beetles. Birds are perhaps the most damaging vertebrate pest to grape yields, but deer can also eat young shoots, leaves, and fruit clusters.
Uses
Grapes are primarily grown for fruit production in home fruit gardens where ornamental interest is not a main concern. However, grapes do in fact have good ornamental value: bold summer foliage, showy fruit, some fall color and shaggy, twisted trunks and branching often best seen in winter. When grown on fences, walls, trellises, arbors or other structures, grapes can be quite attractive year-round and can provide good cover, screening, or shade to areas around the home. Woody vines can be woven into decorative wreaths.