Going to plant me some grapes

[Jenise]

A need for something with some height in my front courtyard has led to a plan to build a grape pergola. The current plan is for the structure to be 8 feet fall, nine feet wide and about 42 inches deep to support four vines which will be planted at each of the structure's four support columns. Some sort of lattice-like support system will be required for the vines to climb and crawl over the pergola. However, neither me nor my landscaper has ever grown grapes. We haven't a clue about optimum spacing for the lattice system--can anyone here give me any direction?

Heh heh heh.

All I can say is it would be very easy for one prolific grapevine to cover a half acre of land within a couple of years if it was unrestrained. So be careful, Jenise.

You should understand that you (or your gardener) will be spending a goodly amount of time pruning those grapevines. I have one (1) grapevine in my side yard, and two or three times a year I'm out there fighting (and cussing) with the vine, usually because I've delayed the pruning too long, and the damned thing grows better than potato plant or ivy or jasmine.

If I don't get to it in time it covers my fence, climbs into two different neighbor's trees, and tries to coil over and around shrubs nearby.

When you plant the vines, the pergola training should make it simpler to care for. Just be aware you'll see explosive growth that needs pruning, and you'll get lots of stalk and leaves to dispose of.

[Jenise]

Yeah, I realize that part, which is fine. Pruning is my favorite garden job, and I want to plant for a variety of fruit--all four vines will be different, two white and two red.

and I want to plant for a variety of fruit--all four vines will be different, two white and two red.

Do we get to vote?

[Jenise]

and I want to plant for a variety of fruit--all four vines will be different, two white and two red.

Do we get to vote?

Pick your answer:

A) Yeah, but I won't listen.
B) No; the weather gets a bigger vote than I do.

Truly, I don't have a large range to choose from. Pretty cool up here. Pinot Noir might be my only good choice for a vinifera red. Might go with Chambourcin or Marechal Foch for the other. I have a little more selection among whites.

Might go with Chambourcin or Marechal Foch for the other. I have a little more selection among whites.

Did I hear Paul B. go into a swoon???

Think about Gamay!

[Jenise]

Steve, I love gamay. Don't know how the grapes are for eating, which is what I'll be doing with whatever I grow, but it would be interesting to try. I live about 40 miles south of Vancouver, BC--very cool climate, though I'm in a sunny rainshadow and have a marine influence.

If you are looking for grapes to eat, I'll put in a good word for Dornfelder and Trollinger. Those grapes are prominent in the red wines produced in the part of Germany where I live, and, to tell you the truth, I'm not quite sure if the ones sold at local markets as table grapes by those names are the same that are vinified, but they are quite delicious fruit (more impressed by the raw materials thus far than by vinified versions).

Of course, I imagine availability and compatibility to your climate will be the dominant considerations, about which I know nothing . . .

Yeah, I realize that part, which is fine. Pruning is my favorite garden job, and I want to plant for a variety of fruit--all four vines will be different, two white and two red.

Jenise - here is a very good link for table grapes:
Table Grape Varieties for Cool Climates.
Lakemont (white), Canadice (red) and Steuben (black) are all very tasty grapes.

Good luck with whatever you choose, Jenise. I would also take heed with the others' comments that grapevines are very prolific and four on a pergola of those dimensions might be a bit of overkill ... unless you train the vines to a low trunk and cordon, and allow the canes to grow vertically along each of the sides, rather than training a tall trunk and letting the growth rest atop the pergola - the former system will not give you the desired appearance, though.

Some things to consider: (1) Grapes like Marechal Foch, Steuben and in fact most labruscas, tend to have drooping canes that actually make them good candidates for growing atop pergolas; (2) most viniferas have upright growth habits; (3) there are hybrids that also have upright growth, e.g. Villard Noir, so they can be trained like vinifera; (4) Marechal Foch grapes are quite small, so they will make for small eating grapes ... Chambourcin berries and clusters are larger than Foch's.

It's unlikely you will have to spray the hybrids or labruscas should you choose them (natural candidates for organic viticulture); you will likely have to do much more work to keep the viniferas disease-free as, climate notwithstanding, they simply have less disease resistance.

Dearie me, PaulB. Tut Tut, no flogging of Baco Noir?!! All that sea air and seagull droppings should be ideal eh.