The Grape Trellis

We found out not long after we bought this farm that there used to be both well established Blackberry bushes and grape vines here. They had been torn out for some reason and Mrs. Glass [The original owner] was tearful when she found out. She told us the grapes were the best eating grapes and the blackberries produced superb berries that she had always loved to get her husband to pick.

We found the site of the old grape vines and trellising for them. They must have been  beautiful but all that was left were posts cut off at the ground and the rotted ruins of sawed off grape vines.

So now we are starting again. The first grape vines were planted in the fall of 2016 and are looking good. We looked at a lot of trellis designed and we wanted something strong and simple.

When we met the fence contractor we saw his trellising system and knew it was what we wanted. So when Ralph talked fencing he also talked trellising.
The Contractor built them when he was here doing the fence and this summer should see the Catawba, Concord and Niagara grapes start their life on the trellising.

Catawba Grapes

 Catawba is a red American grape variety used for wine as well as juice, jams and jellies. The grape can have a pronounced musky or "foxy" flavor.

Concord Grapes

The Concord grape is a cultivar derived from the grape species Vitis labrusca that are used as table grapes, wine grapes and juice grapes. They are often used to make grape jelly, grape juice, grape pies, grape-flavored soft drinks, and candy.

 

 

Niagara Grapes

Niagara grapes are a variety of the North American grape species Vitis labrusca and are used as table grapes and for wines, as well as jams and juice. Niagara is the leading green grape grown in the United States.

Here are some photos of the trellis's.

 

We used high tensile wires, they will withstand tightening as the grapes start to bear fruit. These posts are in the ground over 3 feet. The support wires go to shorter posts driven in deep as well.

We have two wires to hold the vines and the vines are in the center of the panels. We will attach them to the wires and direct them along the wires toward the posts.

Here you can see a Catawba, it looks rather sad at this time of year but is well rooted and should do well this summer. We would have had a few grapes last summer until the turkey's found them. The turkeys became  quite fond of the grapes and after they tasted them the  grape vines were on their must walk by each morning list!

 

 Here you can see how simple they are...and how the support wires hold the posts.

Here is the set up at the base of the brace post. There are big washers between the nut and the post to stop the bolt pulling through the post under pressure.

We are making headway and each improvement gives us such joy. We are so truly blessed. I can "taste" fresh sun warmed grapes as I write this. The Blackberries should yield this year as well, can you imagine Fresh Jersey cream spooned thickly on fresh blackberries?

This simple but strong set of trellis's will improve each year as the  grapes mature and become established vines. Summer should see us sipping grape juice and enjoying the bounty of our farm.

God Bless you all.