Comments on: How To Keep Your Grapevines Alive Through The Winter http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/ The Documented Experiments of an Alberta Gardener Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:22:24 +0000 hourly 1 By: glenn wright http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-143861 glenn wright Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:51:32 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/compost-mulch/17/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/#comment-143861 Suggest mulching with straw rather than hay. Hay tends to pack down if wet. Also mice seem to love hay to overwinter in. Spreading some smallish tree branches over the laid down grapes and then spreading the straw will help trap the early snow. I have wintered over Valiant north of Edmonton for about 10 yrs. They survive but do not bloom or fruit-perhaps because they do not leaf out untill early - mid June. Have planted Frontenac, Eona and other U of Minnesota hybrids in 2009. Most overwintered fine except for some dieback but suffered from a very late start last spring acheiving only miminal growth this past summer. This fall I put more effort in at least a little protection and hope for better results in the spring. Glenn Suggest mulching with straw rather than hay. Hay tends to pack down if wet. Also mice seem to love hay to overwinter in. Spreading some smallish tree branches over the laid down grapes and then spreading the straw will help trap the early snow. I have wintered over Valiant north of Edmonton for about 10 yrs. They survive but do not bloom or fruit-perhaps because they do not leaf out untill early – mid June. Have planted Frontenac, Eona and other U of Minnesota hybrids in 2009. Most overwintered fine except for some dieback but suffered from a very late start last spring acheiving only miminal growth this past summer. This fall I put more effort in at least a little protection and hope for better results in the spring.
Glenn

]]> By: Tammy http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-125410 Tammy Sat, 05 Nov 2011 20:50:10 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/compost-mulch/17/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/#comment-125410 Hi I just came across your article, when searching for info. on growing grapes. Last spring i through some grape seeds in a pot of soil and up grew so grapevines. They grew ralitivity slow. Here it is early November and the grapevines are in a plant pot growing on my kitchen counter. can anyone give me any advise on what to do now to keep them growing........ Hi I just came across your article, when searching for info. on growing grapes. Last spring i through some grape seeds in a pot of soil and up grew so grapevines. They grew ralitivity slow. Here it is early November and the grapevines are in a plant pot growing on my kitchen counter. can anyone give me any advise on what to do now to keep them growing……..

]]> By: km http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-12668 km Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:56:14 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/compost-mulch/17/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/#comment-12668 Interesting feedback. I have Cliche, Frontenac, Severnyi, Eona, Clinton, Sabrevois, Valiant, Osbu. There area lot of different viitculture methods that you can try to grow grapes ie mulches, cluster thiining, rootstocks in our climate. The folks at Olds Collage and the Devonian Botanical Gardens have had me lecture on the subject. I'd like to get some feedback on what folks are trying. Nice website. Cheers Interesting feedback. I have Cliche, Frontenac, Severnyi, Eona, Clinton, Sabrevois, Valiant, Osbu. There area lot of different viitculture methods that you can try to grow grapes ie mulches, cluster thiining, rootstocks in our climate. The folks at Olds Collage and the Devonian Botanical Gardens have had me lecture on the subject. I’d like to get some feedback on what folks are trying. Nice website.

Cheers

]]> By: Dave http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-9807 Dave Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:07:11 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/compost-mulch/17/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/#comment-9807 Hey John, I have heard concerns about mice before, but I haven't had enough personal experience to say with any certainty one way or the other. Perhaps someone else with more grape growing experience could weigh in? Hey John, I have heard concerns about mice before, but I haven’t had enough personal experience to say with any certainty one way or the other. Perhaps someone else with more grape growing experience could weigh in?

]]> By: John Kitt http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-9802 John Kitt Thu, 01 Apr 2010 01:09:09 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/compost-mulch/17/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/#comment-9802 I have heard of laying climbing rose bushes down to help protect them from the cold winds of a northern winter, so it stands to reason that grape vines may benifit also. I am conserned that by putting hay over the vines you would be creating a cozy nest for mice to invade and perhaps eat the bark on the vines, killing them. What do you think? Do you just unwind the vines from the trellis to be able to lay them down? Any help is appreciated, we are novices! John I have heard of laying climbing rose bushes down to help protect them from the cold winds of a northern winter, so it stands to reason that grape vines may benifit also. I am conserned that by putting hay over the vines you would be creating a cozy nest for mice to invade and perhaps eat the bark on the vines, killing them. What do you think?

Do you just unwind the vines from the trellis to be able to lay them down? Any help is appreciated, we are novices! John

]]> By: helena http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-8995 helena Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:57:06 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/compost-mulch/17/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/#comment-8995 this is my second year trying to grow grapes in ireland i covered them with frost covers and let them in the greenhouse but they look dead. when should i espect to see any sign of growth and help what do ever i would be greatful thanks this is my second year trying to grow grapes in ireland i covered them with frost covers and let them in the greenhouse but they look dead.
when should i espect to see any sign of growth and help what do ever i would be greatful thanks

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-4468 Jennifer Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:45:59 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/compost-mulch/17/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/#comment-4468 Thanks Teresa!! I was sure I could not keep grapes in central alberta!! Ill be trying them out next year!! Thanks Teresa!! I was sure I could not keep grapes in central alberta!! Ill be trying them out next year!!

]]> By: Dave http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-3268 Dave Wed, 13 May 2009 14:20:15 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/compost-mulch/17/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/#comment-3268 Thanks for the detailed info, Teresa! I'm going to have to try that myself this fall. Thanks for the detailed info, Teresa! I’m going to have to try that myself this fall.

]]> By: Teresa http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-3261 Teresa Wed, 13 May 2009 11:38:24 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/compost-mulch/17/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/#comment-3261 Hello, When I lived in Kamloops, I grew grapes like mad then I moved to Edmonton and tried again, the first year was like yours..are you alive?? then in late late June I saw my first shoot. The next fall I built a chicken wire "cage" and AFTER a couple of killing frosts- I pruned them a bit and laid down their trellises, put newspaper inside against the upright wire walls for the bottom 1 foot. against the chicken wire to hold in the peat moss, just one sheet so it doesnt block all the air, and once everything compacts it doesnt fall out so, you dont need it anymore. Then I Threw in lots of peat moss for 2 grapes planted 3 feet apart, I broke apart and used a large bale, dry and covered the plants. Then threw in leaves etc, to fill it up to the top of the 3" chicken wire. Early the next spring, I removed the front of the wire cage, and took out all the insulators but left about 2 inches of peat moss right up againt the stem. I did not stand the trellises until after the June 1, so past any frost dates..I had very very little pruning of dead anything, just a few tips of vines..We had a few hard frosts after it was renmoved, but that spring, by the fist of JUne my vines were obviously growing well and I had alot of grapes, It has worked every year since. Hello, When I lived in Kamloops, I grew grapes like mad then I moved to Edmonton and tried again, the first year was like yours..are you alive?? then in late late June I saw my first shoot. The next fall I built a chicken wire “cage” and AFTER a couple of killing frosts- I pruned them a bit and laid down their trellises, put newspaper inside against the upright wire walls for the bottom 1 foot. against the chicken wire to hold in the peat moss, just one sheet so it doesnt block all the air, and once everything compacts it doesnt fall out so, you dont need it anymore. Then I Threw in lots of peat moss for 2 grapes planted 3 feet apart, I broke apart and used a large bale, dry and covered the plants. Then threw in leaves etc, to fill it up to the top of the 3″ chicken wire. Early the next spring, I removed the front of the wire cage, and took out all the insulators but left about 2 inches of peat moss right up againt the stem. I did not stand the trellises until after the June 1, so past any frost dates..I had very very little pruning of dead anything, just a few tips of vines..We had a few hard frosts after it was renmoved, but that spring, by the fist of JUne my vines were obviously growing well and I had alot of grapes, It has worked every year since.

]]> By: Barb http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-954 Barb Sun, 28 Sep 2008 02:13:40 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/compost-mulch/17/how-to-keep-your-grapevines-alive-through-the-winter/#comment-954 Hi Alex All of the grape vines I planted this spring are growing like crazy. The 4 year old Valients have alot of ripe grapes on them at the moment but not as many as last year, just not enough heat this season. I'll still get quite a few pints of jelly but will have to be stingy about who I give it to!! I am going to mulch the more tender grape plants with peatmoss once we get a killing frost and some consistently cooler days (and nights). I haven't taken the Valient grapes off the vine yet, they are much sweeter after they've had a killing frost. Hi Alex

All of the grape vines I planted this spring are growing like crazy. The 4 year old Valients have alot of ripe grapes on them at the moment but not as many as last year, just not enough heat this season. I’ll still get quite a few pints of jelly but will have to be stingy about who I give it to!! I am going to mulch the more tender grape plants with peatmoss once we get a killing frost and some consistently cooler days (and nights). I haven’t taken the Valient grapes off the vine yet, they are much sweeter after they’ve had a killing frost.

]]>