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Anyone Grow Grape Like a Weeping Tree?

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Posted by RedSun Z6 Central NJ (My Page) on
Fri, Dec 12, 14 at 11:47

Since I have some extra grape plants, I just wonder if I can train them as a weeping "tree". Just for the fun of it.

I remember seeing some grape vines trained not to grow cordons, but grow fruits buds at the head....

It can be fun to grow several grape trees, with out trellis.... The planting can be dense. I only want a few large clusters per plant.

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RE: Anyone Grow Grape Like a Weeping Tree?

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Google training grapes as standards. This method is often used for container grown grapes.

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RE: Anyone Grow Grape Like a Weeping Tree?

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Google head training - that is the technical term for what you are proposing. There are lots of cool pictures of old head-trained vines, after 20 or so years they become self-supporting.

Scott

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RE: Anyone Grow Grape Like a Weeping Tree?

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What is called "umbrella kniffen" is pretty close too.

The method is common for wine grapes on poor soils in Europe. Supported at first by a post that eventually rots away but by then the upright stem is plenty thick.

I have tried it with a vigorous grape (muscadine) and it simply could not be contained locally to the "truck." I think weak growth may be key.

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RE: Anyone Grow Grape Like a Weeping Tree?

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I saw this done at winery in Chateau-neuf du Pape. They were grown in large terracotta pots and were standards. Each pot had one grape variety and the small trees were about three to four feet tall. They were all placed on top of a wall so animals could not reach the grapes. They were beautiful. Mrs. G

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RE: Anyone Grow Grape Like a Weeping Tree?

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I had never even heard of such a thing till this post. And I'm glad I saw this post!

I've been debating putting in grape "fences" on my property, mostly because they suck up space I'd rather use otherwise. But if a grape can be trained into a weeping tree, that would be beautiful and work space wise.

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RE: Anyone Grow Grape Like a Weeping Tree?

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  • Posted by RedSun Z6 Central NJ (My Page) on
    Sat, Dec 13, 14 at 18:43

I've seen this on some books, but I do not know if anyone actually doing it.

I just have some extra rooted grape plants. But I do not want too many grape vines. So I just want to plant them for fun... I just do not want to install a permanent trellis for them....

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RE: Anyone Grow Grape Like a Weeping Tree?

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  • Posted by bob_z6 6b/7a SW CT (My Page) on
    Sat, Dec 13, 14 at 19:36

Of the 6 UoA vines I planted last year, 2 of them are next to a post instead of a trellis. I'm hoping to do something like this with them.

I accidentally did this with a potted Mars vine a few years ago. I never got around to planting or staking it, but It was self-supporting and even bore some grapes in the 2nd year. I think GB is right- weak growth (compared to other grapes- it is was still pretty strong, especially when it sent a root out a drainage hole...) was what allowed this to happen.

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RE: Anyone Grow Grape Like a Weeping Tree?

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  • Posted by RedSun Z6 Central NJ (My Page) on
    Sat, Dec 13, 14 at 22:41

I think if the vine is old enough, you can train it to a very strong real umbrella. Then you can move a chair under it and open your mouth to catch some grapes to drop....

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