Help with weak producing grape vine

BK-Gardener

Garden lurker
Joined
Feb 17, 2022
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Hello!

Looking for input on a grape vine which has produced little to no fruit the past few seasons. After some research I think it might be that I am not pruning the plant back enough in winter, but I am not completely sure. Thus I am looking for help/advice.

I live in the the Seattle, WA area and have attached a PDF with both summer and winter photos. It also shows the position of the vine relative to our house, sun, etc.

Any input is appreciated! Thanks in advance!
 

Attachments

  • Grape Plant.pdf
    983.5 KB · Views: 257

flowerbug

Garden Master
Joined
Oct 15, 2017
Messages
17,798
Reaction score
28,978
Points
427
Location
mid-Michigan, USoA
can you please post the plain pictures?

how old are the plants? what variety?

in general there are the usual issues to consider when a plant is not performing. the conditions, how much light, water, nutrients, drainage. then there are the considerations of the variety selected, what the root stock might be, if the plant is damaged or diseased somehow. most of these things are not easily determined to a casual observer and may be best answered by asking around your area for a master gardener or agricultural extension.

my own grape growing was only for very hardy varieties that were well grafted. no issues at all other than Mom chopping them back one year when i went off to college. i never saw them big again before she sold the house. i had a few nice crops off them.

at this location there was one vine but it was removed after the trunk split and it kept getting black rot each season. just wasn't worth the time i was putting into it even if i really liked growing it. this isn't the right location, not sure i'll ever put any vines back in. there are a lot of wild grape vines around which host diseases so it's not too likely i'd have much luck (along with the poor location for grapes in general) but some year i may find a vine with noted resistance and i may give it another try.
 

ducks4you

Garden Master
Joined
Sep 4, 2009
Messages
12,755
Reaction score
18,527
Points
437
Location
East Central IL, Was Zone 6, Now...maybe Zone 5
Sometimes vines will die, but if yours is producing lot of leaves, then you need to severely prune it back, like right now, during the dormant season.
My vines had small grapes one year, then we had a freeze. All of the leaves fell off. Then, they grey back, and so did the grapes.
 

flowerbug

Garden Master
Joined
Oct 15, 2017
Messages
17,798
Reaction score
28,978
Points
427
Location
mid-Michigan, USoA
gotta know more about the conditions before i can say anything specific about pruning. the age and location, soil fertility, water amounts available and many other things come into play when deciding how many buds you're going to leave on a plant and how you'll prune it.

if the OP is still reading along, there are some decent guides available on-line for how to prune a grape vine, also books via the library. :)
 

ducks4you

Garden Master
Joined
Sep 4, 2009
Messages
12,755
Reaction score
18,527
Points
437
Location
East Central IL, Was Zone 6, Now...maybe Zone 5
I had 8 grape vines when I moved here. Didn't know until LAST year that some previous owner planted them too close. I was down to 4, then DH hit one with the tractor. Now, 3.
I have 3 growing in pots in the basement, although one doens't look great. I plan to replace that one in April, when they go on sale again.
It was SOOOOOO disappointing to receive the 2 grapes I bought from a nursery. They were closer to the size of a sweet pepper plant, which is why I potted them AND brought them inside to baby this winter.
The other two are flourishing and I expect to plant them in the ground come this September, so as to allow their roots to get big enough to handle our weather.
Agreed, study online.
Gardeners are mostly people who share their ideas, especially when we have already paid for them...like universities.
Check out your local Land grand University and the extension sites bc they have a handle on how to grow in YOUR area, for which you have not bothered to put with your Avatar.
We really ONLY need your growing zone, and I don't think the government can track you with THAT.
Perhaps you are growing on the moon?
 
Top