To grow virgin grapes, support is needed. The choice of design type depends on many conditions. In addition to the traditional gazebo, woven with a dose of grapes, special canopies, arches, and pergolas are used. Sometimes the types of structures are combined. The lattice can decorate the walls of the house, and also become part of the support for creating a hedge of grapes.
What it is
Maiden grapes grow quickly; due to the high growth rate, the bushes quickly become heavy, and under this pressure they can break. If a fracture occurs on the bush, this will provoke disease and a general deterioration in appearance.The best way out is to use supports that support the branches and prevent them from bending or breaking.
Maiden grapes produce an excellent harvest, but in addition they serve as an excellent material for decoration within the framework of landscape designer programs.
Maiden grapes grow as a deciduous vine, the bulk of which consists of blades. The shoots of this variety are located as close as possible, which leads to good density. If you do not create a special support, the vines will fall to the ground. This is an unacceptable option, since the leaves will begin to rot if left on the ground for a long time, and the fruits will form at half strength.
The mass of vines requires the creation of special supports with special requirements. The fastenings are made especially reliable, since ordinary trellises will not support the weight.
At the dacha or in the garden, it is better to select supports that are in the nature of permanent structures. For example, a fence and many other devices can be used for support. But experts recommend making supports specifically for this grape.
Types of support
In gardening stores, supports are expensive, so many gardeners build the structures themselves. In addition, when working independently, it is easy to take into account the characteristics of the site, as well as individual planting conditions.
In addition to special designs, they often use what is at hand. Walls and fences often serve as support for maiden grapes.
The grape variety belongs to the wild category; these species are characterized by rapid growth and active vine formation. It is necessary to tie and shape the bushes at the initial stage so as not to miss thickening.
Alcove
This is a good option for a personal plot. Using a gazebo as a support is beneficial.On the one hand, there is no need to organize special supports, on the other hand, the grapes receive a good reliable structure as support for further growth.
The support of the gazebo is a frame with transverse and longitudinal lines. Bulkheads are designed to form vines. The grapes grow quickly and easily, and the density of shoots can be controlled using formative pruning.
One of the requirements for a gazebo is the use of suitable material during construction. Polished material will not work, otherwise the vine will have nothing to cling to; untreated wood is not recommended, otherwise the vine will develop splinters.
Gazebos are seasonal and stationary. Each option has its pros and cons.
Construction can be seasonal or permanent. The first is less durable, but durable, due to the fact that it can be removed for the winter.
Arches
This is the most popular type of support for grapes. The support looks attractive and performs the functions that are assigned to it. On the arena, the liana is located freely, there is access to processing, you can do any pruning using a stepladder.
Different materials are suitable for making arches. But it is important to know that it is not recommended to use movable or collapsible arches for growing wild maiden varieties. Usually only stationary supports made of durable materials are used.
Canopy
Sheds are built as a pyramidal structure, can be attached to the wall of the estate or erected as an independent support. Contrary to expectations, a canopy does not necessarily represent an entire structure. It is made from mesh, timber and other suitable materials.
Pergola
These types of supports are traditionally used to support grapevines or rose bushes. Pergolas are designed for perennial crops that are heavy in weight.
The design belongs to the category of a universal product, made of metal-plastic, timber, and other materials of a similar type. To build a pergola, you need to choose a location. The structure is erected in the form of a gazebo, canopy or pagoda, but in this case the pergolas are purely decorative.
Lattices
This is a universal type of support that can be placed separately or woven into another structure. With the help of gratings, space is demarcated and zones are distinguished. Grapes love lattice supports, so the vines have something to grab onto and grow further. Grilles are also often used for this purpose. To place additional decorative elements inside the space limited by bars.
The gratings serve both as a self-propelled support and as part of the whole complex. Lattices are used to decorate the walls of houses, gazebos, or additionally hang them on arches, thereby making the supports more reliable and aesthetically beautiful.
How to make it yourself
To organize the structure yourself, use special materials. Typically, gardeners prefer to use affordable kits, such as wood pipes or metal pipes. The requirement for metal pipes is a cross-section with a diameter of 50 to 60 centimeters. In addition, plastic nozzles, channels, and corners for fastening are used.
The metal is usually welded together - this makes the structure more durable. As for wooden beams, in this case, processing of the material becomes an obligatory step.In order for wooden supports to serve for years, the timber must be impregnated with special compounds, and the surface is varnished. If the tree is not treated, it quickly becomes covered with fungus, which, in turn, is transferred to the grapes, putting the harvest at risk.
In addition to the basic design, additional tools are used:
- Nylon thread. This material is capable of holding up to 150 kilograms of weight. It does not rust and does not form sediment.
- Wire thread. For grapes, choose a thread up to 3 millimeters thick or more; if necessary, make several circles of winding.
- Zinc wire. This type of winding is durable and reliable.
Here it is important to choose materials that, when tied, do not shrink, rust or deform. The fact is that all of the listed materials last for several seasons, so they must be selected with special care.
How to tie
Young shoots are tied up at the initial stage so as not to damage the vines and not provoke excessive shoot formation. Young bending vines are laid on the wall or tied up beautifully and neatly using suitable material.
In this case, you should follow a few basic rules:
- The direction of shoot growth must be adjusted at the initial stage. If bushes grow randomly in a hedge, then tying is mandatory on pergolas. Tying is practiced in such a way that part of the grapes covers the surface of the ground. To do this, the plant is tied horizontally in relation to the support bars.
- When laying on the walls of the estate, take into account that the formation of branches begins at a distance of 0.5 meters from the ground.To circle the vine around a door or window opening, adjust the direction of growth by tying the bush to the neighboring one.
- If the grapes grow from one container, then choose a location for it in the corner, so that in the future you can trim the bushes on the sides of the corner and place them on a trellis or support.
It is impossible to grow grapes with active vine formation without the use of supports. The closer the sheets fit to each other, the denser the canopy looks. In this way you can create a cozy space inside the gazebo.
In addition, the formation of the support structure is practical. If the vines lie on the ground, then most of the planting will be affected by fungus. The leaves of the grapes are dense; when they come into contact with the ground, they begin to rot, which inevitably leads to the spread of the fungus throughout the vine. For careless owners, mold develops under the grape vines on the walls of the house, if pruning and shaping is done incorrectly.
