Not every person has a personal plot where he can grow vegetables and berries. In this case, it is recommended to pay attention to simple and affordable methods of cultivating crops at home. If you study the step-by-step instructions and strictly follow all the steps, choose the appropriate variety, growing grapes in city apartments will be successful and will not cause any particular difficulties.
The best varieties of indoor grapes
Several varieties of grapes specially adapted for this are grown at home:
- The most popular is cissus rhombifolia. It is a herbaceous type of vine. It has trifoliate leaves, diamond-shaped and dark green in color. Each leaflet is characterized by a serrated edge. The stems and petioles of this variety of grapes have slight pubescence and small tendrils, with the help of which the vine clings to the support. If pollination is carried out correctly, small flowers form on the grapes, which then form small berries that have a pleasant taste. Of all the varieties of indoor grapes, rhombifolia cissus is the most unpretentious.
- Antarctic cissus. The leaves of this herbaceous vine are dark green and ovate in shape. They are arranged alternately and do not exceed 10 cm in length. All stems and tendrils are densely pubescent with brown hairs. Leaves with serrated edges. Green flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences.
- Cissus variegated. One of the most demanding species in terms of growing conditions. The leaves with a serrated edge are arranged alternately. The color of the surface of the leaves is reddish-green, the lower part is purple. The stems and petioles have the same shade.
A variety of grapes such as tetrastigma is rarely grown at home, since it has heavy vines and is more suitable for planting in greenhouses.
The subtleties of growing crops at home
To ensure that the process of growing grapes does not cause difficulties, they study the plant’s requirements for soil, lighting and organize competent agrotechnical care for the plant.
Preparing the substrate and container
To grow grapes in an apartment, it is important to choose suitable containers; this can be done in pots or tubs. In the first year, take a flower pot with a volume of 5 liters. In the 2-3rd year of cultivation, the bushes are transplanted into a container with a conical shape and a volume of 10 liters.
For the full development of the grape bush at home, prepare the soil with the following composition:
- Turf soil - 1/3 tsp.
- Soil substrate - 1/3 tsp.
- River sand - 1/3 tsp.
- Complete mineral fertilizer - 0.5 cups.
- Wood ash - 1 cup.
Soil for planting vines can also be purchased at a gardening store, the main thing is that it has a neutral reaction.
Landing algorithm
It is recommended to plant the plant in late March or early April. To grow healthy and fruit-bearing grapes on the windowsill, adhere to the following algorithm of actions:
- Purchase either a two-year-old or a well-developed one-year-old seedling.
- 3 days before planting the seedlings in the ground, their roots are cut to 10 cm and lowered into water. It is recommended to add any root former, for example, Kornevin.
- A small mound of prepared soil mixture is poured onto the bottom of the selected container.
- A grape seedling is placed on it and its roots are carefully straightened and covered with earth.
- Irrigate the soil and add soil from above to the edge of the container.
- Place plastic caps on the seedlings with holes made in them for air circulation. As soon as the buds begin to bloom, they are removed.
Features of plant care
There is nothing complicated in the agrotechnical care of grape seedlings. All the plants need is watering, fertilizing, timely pruning and preventive procedures.
Temperature
The temperature for homemade grapes in summer and autumn is preferably moderate, not exceeding 25 degrees. For the winter, the trimmed bushes are transferred to a room where the temperature is between 12-15 degrees. For cissus multicolored, a higher summer temperature is recommended, in winter - at least 16 degrees.
Humidity
If cissus multicolored is grown in an apartment, it requires high humidity. Therefore, it is recommended to spray the plant weekly and sometimes give it a shower. Other varieties of homemade grapes are not so demanding on humidity levels; they tolerate dry air normally. The only thing that negatively affects their development is extreme heat. During such periods, the air in the room is humidified using a sprayer.
Lighting
For full development, homemade grapes require lighting of at least 10 hours a day. If the bushes are grown on northern window sills, provide additional lighting using fluorescent lamps.
In the case where the plants are placed on the south side of the house, they will have to be shaded at midday so that the scorching rays of the sun do not burn the grapes.
Watering
Grape bushes need abundant and regular watering all spring and summer. In autumn and winter, moisten plants moderately, otherwise the roots will rot. Insufficient irrigation during the period of flowering and berry formation leads to low yields, and the grapes will grow small and sour. Therefore, they regularly monitor the condition of the soil, preventing it from drying out. The water from the pan is drained so that it does not stagnate and damage the root system of the seedlings.
Feeding and fertilizers
The growth and development of grapes at home is intensive, so it is impossible to do without adding nutritional components. They use fertilizers for non-flowering plants, which are purchased at gardening stores. In the spring, compositions with an increased amount of nitrogen are preferred; in the fall, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are preferred. In winter, they stop feeding grapes.
Shaping and trimming
With the arrival of spring, they engage in sanitary and anti-aging pruning so that the grape bushes look attractive. Fruiting vines must be shortened to 5-8 buds. The tips of the shoots are pinched for better branching. The shape of the indoor plant is given at your discretion.
Rules for transplantation and transshipment
Due to the fact that grapes grow and develop quite quickly in indoor conditions, they are replanted annually. This is done until the bushes are 5 years old. In the future, it will be enough to replant the plant after a year or two.
This is done in the fall, having previously prepared a larger container and the fertile mixture that was used when planting the grapes. Pre-water the soil in the pot and carefully, with a lump of soil, remove the plant from the container. The gaps are filled with new soil and lightly compacted.
Harvest and storage
The harvest of homemade grapes begins in September, when the berries are fully ripe. The fruits are stored in different ways - frozen for the winter, prepared into compotes, used to create wine and liqueurs. Fresh grapes can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a week.
