Grapes: Training and Pruning

Grapes are one of the most ancient crops known. They can be eaten fresh as table grapes or enjoyed in a variety of products such as juice, jelly, and the ultimate processed grape product, wine--created from the controlled fermentation of grape juice. [For information on home winemaking, refer to Winemaking as a Hobby (AGRS-49), available through Penn State county extension offices.] Grapes are a wonderful crop to grow in the backyard. Many species are native to North America and are extremely easy to grow, whereas others (primarily wine grapes) are natives of Europe and can present a true horticultural challenge to the backyard grower. Because grapes are vines, the form to which they are trained is limited only by the grower's imagination--from arbors to fences to more standard trellis systems, grapes can be trained to conform to many shapes and sizes.

For more information, please see this Penn State Small Fruit Production Guide Web page.

Penn State Horticulture Department

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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