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grape

 

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IDENTIFICATION

Common Name
grape
Photo #1
Scientific Name
Vitis vinifera L.
Family
Vitaceae
Spanish Name
uva, parra
Species Description
Grape vines are indeterminate, woody, perennial, deciduous vines. They have a flexible trunk with branches that require support. Grape vines have been observed to grow hundreds of feet in length, but are typically trained much shorter. Leaves are a modified heart shape with toothed margins often three to five lobes. Small, perfect flowers occur in 1 to 4 inch-long clusters that are borne opposite the leaves. Fruit form in clusters of juicy, thin-skinned berries that vary in color from white, to red, purple, or black.
 

NATURAL / CULTURAL HISTORY

AZ Native or Introduced
Introduced to Arizona
Natural Range
60-80 species of wild grapes in northern hemisphere. Highest diversity in eastern and southern North America and east Asia. Wine grape (Vitis vinifera), originally native to the Mediterranean but transplanted widely across the world in areas with similar climates.
Cultural-Historic Notes
Early evidence of cultivation from Anatolia, dating 4000 BCE. Documents on wine making found in Egypt 3-4000 BCE. Wine producing regions grow most of the world grapes. Minor amounts of table grapes from warmer regions.
 

GROWTH FORM & RATE

Growth Form
  • Vine
Tree or Understory
Understory
Other Growth Characteristics
  • Seasonally Deciduous
Growth Rate
Moderate
Canopy Diameter
Typical 15-20 feet, but trained to space.
Tree Height
Typically 15-20 feet, canes grow to 50 feet.
Lifespan
50 years productive, vines may live over 100 years.
Years to Bearing, if nursery tree is 1-2 years old; grafted
2-4 years
Chill Hours
100+ hours
Freeze Tolerance
Frost tolerance depends on variety. European grapes winterkill at 0 to -15 degrees F. American grapes such as concord can withstand to -20 degrees F.
Site, Micro-Climate, and Growing Considerations
Select sites with sun and good air flow.
Appropriate Arizona Elevation Categories
  • HIGH MOUNTAIN: Flagstaff - USDA Zone 6b (-5ºF-0ºF)
  • HIGH PLATEAU, MOUNTAIN: Prescott, Tuba City, Winslow, Page - USDA Zones 7a-7b (0ºF-10ºF)
  • HIGH DESERT: Sierra Vista, Kingman, Globe, Wilcox - USDA Zones 8a-8b (10-20ºF)
  • MID DESERT: Tucson, Ajo, Safford, Casa Grande - USDA Zones 9a-9b (20-30ºF)
  • LOW DESERT: Phoenix, Lake Havasu City, Yuma - USDA Zones 9b-10a (25-35ºF)
USDA Interactive Plant Zone Map for Arizona
 

WATER

Relative Plant Water Use
  • Medium: 20-35 inches / year
Post-Establishment Irrigation Needs
  • 1 X Month in Growing Season
Notes on Species-Specific Water Needs
Vines are irrigated in regions with insufficient rains. Young vines require more water than established vines, 1-2 inches per week. Mature table and raisin grapes require less water than wine grapes. Drought stress will decrease productivity, but may increase flavor in wine grapes.
 

CARE

Pollination
Self and cross-pollinated varieties. Pollinated by wind and insects.
Soils
Prefer well-drained, sandy loam soils with neutral pH, but can adapt to a wide range of soils and pH levels. Table grapes grow best on deep, rich soils, where wine grapes are often grown on poorer soils to develop fruit character.
Propagation
Propagation is mainly vegetative through rooted cuttings and grafting. Rooting of dormant, hardwood cuttings is standard. Semi-hardwood cuttings can be rooted during the growing season in mist-beds. Grafting is often practiced via bench-grafting of European cultivars onto un-rooted disease-resistant rootstock, which is then rooted in a soil medium in a high-humidity location at 75-78 degrees F for 3-4 weeks.
Pest & Disease Control
Many diseases affect grapes; fungal diseases most damaging. Powdery mildew proliferates in dry climates; downy mildew problematic in humid regions. Grapes also affected by wood rotting fungi, bot canker. Controlled by planting in sunny locations with good air circulation, pruning to increase air flow, removing dead and diseased wood from vineyard, selecting disease-resistance cultivars, painting over large cuts to decrease infection risk. Wine grapes are susceptible to root damage from grape phylloxera and must be grafted onto resistant rootstock.
Pruning Notes
Grape vines are let fall the first year to grow a strong root system. The first winter, when the vines are a year old, they are pruned back to two buds. During the following season, a single vine is selected to form a trunk, which is tied to a vertical stake. The following year, side branches are established. These are called cordons. Three main training systems: Head trained vines with short, permanent branches; Head trained vines with long permanent branches; Cordon-trained with long permanent cordons that bear fruit from short branches called arms. Prune weak spurs heavily and strong ones lightly to avoid making large cuts that will not heal and introduce disease into the plant.
 

HARVEST & PROCESSING

Edible Parts
Grapes are eaten fresh, dried into raisins, processed into juice, and fermented into wine and other alcoholic beverages. The juice can also be concentrated as a natural sweetener or made into preserves.
Harvest Months
  • August
  • September
  • October
Harvest and Processing Guide

Copyright November 2022

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