How to beautifully and correctly cover plants in winter on the balcony. Growing grapes on the balcony

Description and types of girlish grapes

There are about 20 varieties girl's grapes that grow in the area North America, Himalayas and East Asia. Some varieties are evergreen.

But deciduous vines have gained the most popularity, since they are less demanding and successfully take root in almost all climatic zones. Caring for this plant is quite simple. Maiden grapes, unlike other varieties of the Grape family, do not need pollination.

In addition to its luxurious decorative foliage, it is famous for its exquisite small black berries. They are inedible, but are an exquisite decoration for decorative vines. The most common deciduous species are: tripointe, Vicha, five-leaf.

Tripointed maiden grapes

In summer, the leaves of the vine are green, and with the onset of autumn their color changes to bright red and brown shades. Countries of growth: Korea, Japan, as well as the territory of Primorsky Krai.

This vine, thanks to its strong branched tendrils, can very easily climb smooth walls. The glossy foliage has a chic decorative look, creating a dense green carpet.

This variety is recommended to be grown in southern areas, since the plant is quite light-loving. Reproduction occurs by sowing seeds. The period for planting seeds is in autumn, since long-term stratification is necessary.

Seedling care is almost not required.

Variety Vicha

Vicha is quite common. It is distinguished by simple large green leaves. With the onset of autumn, the foliage turns bright red.

This type is very readily used for vertical decorations in European countries. Vicha is propagated by woody cuttings. Growing by sowing seeds is impractical, since the seeds bifurcate and lose their ability to grow.

Planted cuttings grow quite slowly in the first year of life and require ongoing care– fertilizing and watering. But later their growth reaches 2.5 m in height. This variety is readily grown in apartments on the balcony, decorating terraces and gazebos.

Five-leaf maiden grape

This species is a woody climbing vine, the height of which can reach 20 meters. This species first appeared in North America and Mexico. This variety is distinguished by palmately compound dark green leaves with pointed ends.

The most common species of this genus is the Engelmann variety. It has quite tenacious branched sucker antennae. The leaves have the shape of five lanceolate dark green leaves, the length of which is 12 cm. The plant has reddish petioles.

With the onset of autumn, the foliage takes on a red-violet color. This vine is characterized by fairly active growth (growth of 1 m per year) and requires proper care. Having such a decorative appearance, it looks great on the balcony. Look at the photos of these varieties.

They have significant differences in appearance.

Features of growing and forming virgin grapes

The only drawback and at the same time a great advantage is the abundant and active growth of branches. This often happens if the plant is not given proper care and is not properly pruned. In addition to the decorative appearance of foliage and berries, grapes have a beneficial effect on the microclimate and air, since they perform the function of sound insulation, gas and dust protection, and also have phytoncidal properties.

Densely grown foliage protects very well from the summer heat and also helps reduce dampness in rooms. Planting maiden grapes is a simple process. Almost all varieties of tree vines are undemanding to soil quality.

They do not need their increased fertility. The main thing is that the land is not dry and depleted. The liana easily tolerates slight soil salinity.

Adult and large plants are planted in deep holes, the width and depth of which should be 50 cm. These holes should have good drainage and be filled with fertile soil.

Young seedlings are planted in the spring. The distance between each plant should be at least 60 cm; initial care involves regular watering.

Watering, fertilizing and pruning

Caring for grapes includes regular watering, fertilizing, as well as the construction necessary supports to give a decorative appearance to the plant. Timely watering is especially important. Drying out the soil can lead to the loss of girlish grapes' unique decorative properties.

For feeding use nitroammophoska - 40-50 g per square meter. This fertilizer is applied in early summer or spring. During the period of active growth, the plant is fed with 200 g of the drug Kemira Universal. But this is not all the proper care the grapes need.

It is very important to regularly loosen the soil, remove weeds, and trim, which is necessary to remove damaged and excess branches. Pruning can also be done to reduce the volume of the plant. Watch a training video on how to properly care for grapes. All types of maiden grapes are very readily used for landscaping fences, walls, gazebos, and also balcony doors ( on the picture). The bright mosaic of leaves, which turn red and brown with the onset of winter, is simply mesmerizing in its beauty.

How to propagate virgin grapes yourself

Propagation of virgin grapes is quite simple. There are two ways to grow this tree-like vine at home:

• Stem layering. Lignified cuttings. Seeds.

To grow in the first way, you need to use and prepare planting material- stem layering. Prepare several young shoots up to 2 m long. Bury them in the grooves to a depth of 3 cm and water regularly.

As soon as the first roots appear on the cuttings, the plants are planted in open ground at a distance of 20 cm from each other. It is best to plant in the fall in the morning or evening. Experienced gardeners often do not prune cuttings.

They are simply bent to the ground, pinned, for example, with steel wire, then sprinkled with earth. Then care is simple: they are watered regularly, and the next year, when the cuttings have put out their first roots, they can be separated and planted separately.

It is not advisable to use apical layering with dormant buds for propagation. The best and effective way Growing vines is a method of propagation by wood cuttings. To do this, at the end of spring or early summer, cut off several good branches that have mature leaves and place them in a glass of water.

The cut of the shoot must be made 2-3 cm lower from the leaf. After some time, the cuttings will produce their first young roots. It is necessary to regularly moisten the branches by spraying.

It is quite possible to propagate virgin grapes using seeds. But this process is quite troublesome.

At the beginning of autumn, the seeds, cleared of fruits, are sown in the ground. The very next year, in June, the first shoots appear. Seeds are also planted in the spring, but only after long stratification, which takes about 2 months.

The advantage of the second method is the rapid germination of seeds - within a few weeks after sowing. Before sowing in the spring after stratification, it is better to soak the seeds for several days in warm water. Seeds are planted to a depth of about 1 cm.

The seeds have a fairly long shelf life and do not lose their viability throughout the year.

Growing virgin grapes in the house and on balconies

Maiden grapes have found their use even in apartments. They successfully decorate the door on the balcony, cornices, and window openings. Plants are planted in living spaces in boxes.

The process of planting lignified cuttings is the same as in open ground. It is advisable to mulch the plants with peat and cover them with polyethylene for the winter. With the onset of spring, the shelter is removed and supports are placed, to which young branches are tied in the required direction.

Maiden's grapes can freely decorate the entire door on the balcony in one season. You can see a detailed description of all methods of growing maiden's grapes in the video materials. To decorate arches with maiden's grapes, lignified cuttings are used, preferably long ones. The lower part is rooted, and the upper part is tied to a support. In just 2-3 years, the arch will be completely entwined with this decorative vine.

Wintering of girl's grapes

With the onset of autumn, grapes require proper care. It involves collecting fruits to obtain seeds. As soon as the first frost passes, the seeds will no longer be suitable for planting. Therefore, the berries must be collected before the first frost.

Sub-zero air temperatures will lead to a massive fall of foliage, which must be removed, otherwise dampness will remain on the walls. With each subsequent year of life, the plant's frost resistance increases. However, young vines, especially those grown from cuttings, must be covered with snow or some kind of covering material. In the future, they will get stronger, and there will be no need for shelter. The only pest of all varieties of virgin grapes is aphids.

Benefits of grapes

In addition to its decorative appearance, virgin grapes are famous for their beneficial properties. Thanks to the research of scientists, the following were found in its branches: glucose, fructose, apple and lemon acid, a lot of useful microelements and vitamins. The fatty oils contained in the berries have antioxidant properties. Maiden grapes are widely used in oriental medicine.

In city apartments you can grow grapes on the balcony. The easiest way to plant a ready-made grape seedling; if you want to tinker, you can grow it from a cutting. For grapes on the balcony, you need to create suitable conditions. The balcony needs to be insulated; you can buy polystyrene foam; it has good heat-insulating qualities. Choose a suitable support for the vine; if the balcony is not on the south side, then increase the illumination. Illuminate the grapes better with lamps daylight, which are fixed on the ceiling of the balcony or on the walls on the sides. The grapes need lighting from eight in the morning to nine in the evening. The capacity is needed for 50-60 liters, the larger it is the better.

Good for this purpose plastic barrels, cut in half. If there is nothing suitable, then a regular 10 or 12 liter bucket will do.

Drainage holes are made at the bottom and the containers are placed in a tray with sides 6-8 cm high. A regular basin will do. A layer of expanded clay for drainage 4-5 cm high is poured onto the bottom of the container. Gauze soaked in a strong solution of potassium permanganate is placed on top of it, and an earthen mixture is poured onto it, consisting of garden soil mixed with sawdust at a rate of (3:1), preferably in the mixture add wood ash. Keep the cuttings of the desired variety for two days in a solution of a growth stimulator or in water with the addition of honey. Then we bury the cutting in the middle of the container, deepening it into the soil up to the top bud.

Cover the cuttings with a 2-liter glass jar. In 2-3 weeks, the cuttings usually develop roots. The room temperature at this time must be kept at 25-27 degrees.

Then we remove the jar and water it as needed, usually once a week, and if it is very dry, then twice a week. The grape vines are formed so that it is convenient for you to use. The grapes are very plastic and young, non-lignified shoots can be positioned in any direction at your discretion. Grapes usually begin to bear fruit in the second year. The ripening period for homemade grapes is determined by its ripeness and it depends on the grape variety. The growth of a grape bush can always be stopped by shaping, pinching or chasing. If over the years the bush has grown greatly and becomes difficult to cope with, then you can grow a new seedling using layering of this variety or using the above-mentioned technology, and the old bush can be planted in the garden.

Interesting articles:

Grapes are a deciduous woody vine. Propagation is by cuttings, 5 to 35 cm long, cut from mature wood. Cuttings are cut either in the fall after the leaves fall, or in the spring, before the buds begin to grow.

Cuttings must have at least two buds, one 2 cm below the top edge and one 2 cm above the bottom, but cuttings with 3-5 buds are usually used. Cuttings cut in the fall are stored in a damp cloth on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator or tied in bunches - dug into damp soil. In the spring, before planting, the lower cut is renewed and treated with a root growth stimulator, and the upper cut is dipped in melted paraffin or coated with garden varnish. Sometimes heat treatment is practiced, for which the upper part of the cuttings is placed in snow at -2°-0°C and left in this position for 3-7 days.

In this case, the lower part is exposed to air at more high temperature, which subsequently has a positive effect on root formation. Grapes are not picky about soil, but good drainage is of particular importance in potted crops. In summer, during the period of growth and fruiting, grapes require maximum lighting and tolerate dry, hot air conditions well, but with sufficient watering. In winter, especially after leaf fall, temperatures around zero are acceptable with minimal watering and nutrition.

IN room conditions The main determining requirement is to create maximum illumination of all the leaves of the vine. Therefore, the plant is often formed into one arm - the trunk. Pruning the vine for fruiting before the start of the growing season

Pruning the vine after the formation of the ovaries Pruning the vine after fruiting has ended and the leaves have fallen After formation required length the sleeves begin pruning for fruiting, bearing in mind that the clusters are usually formed on the current year's shoots, which grow on the previous year's wood.

In autumn, two shoots are left on the sleeve. The longest (conductor) is placed horizontally at the bottom or a ring is formed from it in a standard form. All side shoots the conductor is removed.

The second shoot is greatly shortened to a stump with three buds. In the spring, fruit shoots develop on the conductor, on which flowers form. And first they allow it to germinate more buds than it is planned to have fruit shoots, because if the main bud dies, then the shoots from the replacement buds are often fruitless.

Fruit shoots are directed vertically upward along the window or twisted along a conductor folded into a ring. After clusters form on the fruit shoot, they pinch it off, leaving one or two leaves behind the bunch.

All shoots that do not bear flowers are removed or pinched after 3-5 leaves. Such fruitless shoots can be identified by early stage, since it is known that flowers do not form above the first tendril on a green shoot. On a hemp with three buds, two shoots are allowed to grow freely.

In the fall, a conductor for next year will be formed from one of them, and the second will be shortened again to a stump with three buds. At the same time, the fruit-bearing conductor with fruit shoots is cut out, thus repeating the entire pruning cycle.

When performing pruning, it is necessary that the wounds be located on one, preferably the inner, side of the sleeve and other perennial parts of the bush. If lighting and heating conditions allow, then you can get two harvests of grapes a year, making very strong pruning after the first fruiting. In room conditions grapes are pollinated by hand, tapping the trunk or transferring pollen to the palm during cross-pollination. In the first year of fruiting, no more than two clusters are left on the vine. In subsequent years, the number of clusters can be gradually increased, keeping in mind that the maximum yield is usually 1.5 kg per plant. In addition to removing excess clusters, thinning them is often practiced indoors.

The main treatments against them are carried out during the absence of leaves after pruning. Once every 3-4 years it is necessary to peel off the old bark from the trunk and destroy it. Growing grapes on the balcony.

In principle, there are no obstacles for people who do not have garden plots or a vineyard to grow their own grapes. All you need is a sunny balcony or terrace.

Proper planting of grapes.

For balcony (terrace) viticulture, a capacity of 100-120 liters is required. This can be a ceramic or wooden pot. It is important that the container is 40-60 cm deep and has holes in the bottom to drain excess water.

At the bottom of such a container we place a drainage layer (5-10 cm) made of expanded clay, gravel or crushed ceramic flower pots. The vine does not tolerate excessive moisture in the root system and such drainage and a drainage hole in the bottom must provide the proper conditions.

We fill the pot with garden soil, which is purchased at a garden store, the so-called flower soil, half mixed with sand. The earth should have a pH reaction within 6-7. It is important to plan the future behavior of the vine in space.

It can rise along a specially prepared plank structure placed on the wall of the building, between the handrail of our balcony and the balcony above, or attached directly to our wooden pot. There is a large field of activity for realizing your own imagination and ingenuity, but the principle must always be preserved that the planned structure must provide conditions for: the plant freely climbing and climbing along it, good heating of the vine by the sun, and its ventilation (we place the structure at a distance of 15 cm, from the wall).

The corresponding structure does not need to be made in the first year - we can do it in the second year after planting. In the first year, it is enough to tie the shoots to a stick driven into the ground near the seedling.

Selecting a grape variety.

We select the variety according to our own preferences. It is worth paying attention to the fact that, based on the limited space, you should select varieties that grow the least.

Planting and care in the first year.

For balcony and terrace viticulture, it is more profitable to use cuttings. This is due to the limited amount of land available to the root system. The purchased seedling should be planted a little deeper than it grew in the container.

Near the seedling, but so as not to damage the roots, we drive a stick to which we will tie the growing vine. During the period of shoot growth, the plant should be watered (not abundantly!) and any weeds that may appear should be removed from the pot.

It is also worth periodically fluffing up the soil to a depth of about 5 cm. It will be enough to fertilize the plant with a handful mineral fertilizer(eg Azofoska), however not later than the beginning of August.

After the leaves fall in the fall and the shoots become woody, it is worth making the first pruning of the vine. Be sure to cut the vine by 2-3 buds. Often, among new winegrowers, you can find those who regret pruning “so well-growing shoots.”

However, for the benefit of the plant, such sentiments should be put aside. And cut! The vine that is pruned is covered with earth before winter.

Protection of grapes from frost.

In principle, there is one serious difference between viticulture on the site and balcony-terrace. This concerns the protection of the root system before winter frosts. When growing a grapevine in a pot (barrel), you should very carefully insulate the roots of the plant on all sides.

Not only from the sides, but also from above, and also (which is sometimes forgotten) from below! Each good idea, this is, first of all, to prevent the root system from freezing in winter and ensure the ground temperature is not lower than 6-7 C. One of the most effective methods is insulation with polystyrene foam boards.

Also for this purpose, you can use dry leaves, straw and other natural materials. Of course, the most advantageous place to overwinter a pot would be a basement or garage. However, based on his weight, this is a rather difficult operation.

Second year of cultivation.

In the spring (end of March, beginning of April) we remove the insulation from the pot and carefully rake the soil poured over the seedling. If last year we did not make a supporting structure for the vine, we are doing it now.

We water the earth abundantly, because it has not received the necessary supply of moisture coming from the snow and spring thaw. We fertilize the soil with a handful of mineral fertilizer and fluff it up to a depth of about 5 cm. Other principles of balcony cultivation are identical to growing grapes on the plot.

Grapevine pruning.

The pruning rules are similar to the general ones for open vineyards. However, due to specific conditions life of the vine it turns out that best methods are: short crop, Cordon Roya, Guyot form.They make it easier to cover the plant for the winter. In case of growing on a balcony best shape is the Cordon Roya, with a permanent perennial tied shoulder to the railing and shoots that rise along the lattice placed between our balcony and the balcony above. I wish you, dear readers, wonderful harvest grapes on the balcony.If you have something to add, please be sure to leave a comment.

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Of course, to grow such an “exotic” fruit for most people, you will need not only desire, but also a minimum of knowledge in the field of agricultural technology. You will also have to find seeds suitable for growing. For a window sill or balcony, the best varieties are: Taiga, Laura, Northern, Russian Concord. Children’s “favorites” take root and grow well - Quiche, Victoria, Delight(red or black), Chaush and some others. In principle, the importance of the variety is secondary if the seeds are taken from a strong vine, since the stronger the plant, the greater the resistance to various diseases and the fewer requirements for soil preparation and initial cultivation - the seed will do everything itself with minimal labor costs. But don’t forget about pollination, so self-pollinating varieties are suitable for the home, and only experienced gardeners may risk growing “different-sex” species.

The soil has very specific requirements: it should be loose and moist (but not soggy). It is best to prepare the soil yourself: heat clean river sand in a frying pan to destroy microflora, then mix with humus in a 1:2 ratio. Also, sawdust should be included with the soil, but not together with it, but in a separate bag. Many people use this type of soil for cuttings and seedlings: leaf humus, turf soil, fine river sand and compost. In this mixture (proportion 3:3:1:2) the root system of young bushes develops best, but for seeds it is worth using the first option.

A minimum set of equipment is required: a small container from which watering will be carried out, a soil ripper (an old unnecessary fork will do), a spray bottle, scissors.

For planting grapes at home, you can use it as flower pots, and immediately containers. However, the latter are not needed in the first three years and turn out to be unnecessarily cumbersome, and due to the impossibility proper watering so large quantity soil increases the risk of developing various diseases.

Preparing seeds or seedlings

The “bush” can be planted using cuttings, seedlings, or seeds. Cuttings are the most labor-intensive, but their viability is high. Seedlings are more convenient because you don’t have to worry about germinating seeds and caring for them. On the other hand, the seedlings may turn out to be from material that you have not tested, and if they turn out to be non-viable, then there is a risk of losing a whole year. You can collect the seeds yourself, for which you will need ripe and large berries of the desired variety. The seeds from them are washed until completely free of pulp under a cool stream, but not cold water. Then they should be laid out on cloth to remove excess moisture, then placed in bags and put in the refrigerator. About once every 7-10 days they need to be taken out of the bag, washed, excess water removed again and put back into the refrigerator door for storage.

With cuttings, everything is somewhat more complicated: they should be purchased in the fall, when the crop is pruned. Purchased cuttings are disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 10-20 seconds, after which they are sprinkled with sawdust coniferous species(which are first scalded with boiling water and cooled to room temperature), placed in a bag and tied in several places with thread. The cuttings should stick out of the bag no more than 5 cm, but not less than 3. Next, the bag is placed in the refrigerator on a shelf with a temperature of 0...+2 degrees. C. Once every 1.5 months they are taken out of the bag, the sawdust is changed, and the blackened cuttings are thrown out.

Seedlings are the simplest option, since it is enough to just purchase them at the time of planting and plant them in pre-prepared soil. But their obvious shortcomings have already been cited above.

Planting grapes in an apartment - first steps

Before planting future bushes, preparatory work should be done. With seeds - remove them from the storage place. Around mid-February, their skin will burst, indicating readiness for germination. It should be done like this: remove the seeds from the bag, carefully scatter them on a damp cloth and place them in a warm place for about four days. Care should be taken to keep the fabric wet, which may require adding water. By the fourth day, the first rudiments of roots should appear, so it’s time to plant the seeds in pots. For each seed, a 3-5 liter pot containing drainage is allocated.

Cuttings are prepared in this way: around the twentieth of February, the bark of the cuttings is cut at the base. If greenery is visible under the bark, then everything is in order - the cutting is alive. If the color varies from black or gray to beige, then there is nothing to plant. The selected material is sent for further preparation: the cuttings are cut into short twigs, each of which should have 2-3 buds. The upper cut is straight, spaced 20-30 mm from the bud, the bottom cut is oblique, spaced 10-20 mm from the bud. The resulting rods are soaked in melt water (the snow should be taken clean, preferably collected away from roads) for two days.

The container is placed on the windowsill, and some natural growth stimulants, primarily honey or sodium humate, can be added to the water. Drying before planting is an important element. It takes no more than a quarter to half an hour and is done on a dry cloth. Do not wipe the cuttings, just spread them out.

Rooting can be done in water, not in soil, as well as in sawdust. However, the last method is quite radical and, with the slightest mistakes, can destroy the future vine. The root is germinated in water like this: cotton wool is placed in a glass container, to which charcoal and two granules of potassium permanganate are added.

The stalk is placed in the cotton wool, after which water is poured to a level that completely hides it. The neck of the container is tightly covered with polyethylene and the resulting kind of greenhouse is placed on the windowsill of the south window. Water will have to be added periodically, and if a strong twig appears, it will have to be carefully removed, otherwise all the strength will go into it and not into the roots. Transplantation into the ground is carried out when the roots are 5-10 mm long.

The seedlings are immediately ready for planting. They are transferred carefully, from the pot in which they are purchased, they should be removed so as not to damage the delicate root system.

Vine care

Growing grapes at home in the first year of the vine's life will require a lot of labor so as not to destroy the plant. First of all, it is worth considering that the grapes are quite light-loving, and they should be placed on the south side, but the pot itself will have to be shaded. Watering frequently, with settled water, if the batteries are “frying”, the air in the house is dry, or the summer is unusually hot, then the intensity of watering can reach up to twice a day. But you should not overwater the plant, as the young roots may rot.

Once every three weeks it is worth applying nitrogen fertilizers until the first fruiting (beginning of summer), however, with the appearance of clusters, it is worth changing the selected fertilizer to a complex one and using it twice a month. At the end of this period, you should switch back to nitrogen. Considering that grapes at home can bear fruit twice a year, complex fertilizers will also be used. After fertilizing, the soil is carefully loosened. Loosening is also done between waterings, every five to seven days.

Regardless of the climate, you should resort to illuminating the bushes, for which fluorescent lamps are placed above them. LB-20 or analogues are best suited, since the intensity of the light flux and light temperature are sufficient for both confident growth and good fruiting.

The growth of the vine is limited: some by two meters, others by one. The optimal limit turns out to be 1.5 meters. In order to properly limit the growth of the vine, you should choose the strongest shoot, trim its tip into 2-3 buds, and simply cut off the rest. But this should be done only after the foliage has fallen and the plant has gone into hibernation.

Every year the grapes will require more and more soil and therefore will have to be replanted into larger containers, but the maximum required size (for a 3-year-old or more bush) is 500x500x500. Every year the volume of humus decreases, and the land increases. But you won’t have to get rid of sand, since it will be the only optimal soil loosening agent.

The bush should be formed from the very first shoots - this is necessary to increase the yield. Correct formation consists of pinching emerging branches, especially fruit-bearing ones, and timely removal of excess ones. Pinching is carried out over the leaf, the fifth in line from the brush. There should be no more than one bunch per shoot - this should be carefully monitored, otherwise you risk getting small and unsweetened berries. The vine is pruned in such a way that a replacement shoot can appear nearby. With this alternation (shoot-vine-shoot-vine), the bush will be the most fruit-bearing and viable.

It is also worth remembering that immediately after fruiting is complete, the plant goes into a dormant state, so it will have to be moved from the south to the north, to the coolest place.

The balcony is part of the apartment, even if it is located outside it. That is why the decoration of this room is important matter. This will speak about the neatness and hard work of the housewife. What else could it be? the best decoration than bright greenery and flowers? Growing various plants on the balcony is favorite hobby many. Today we will tell you how you can grow girlish grapes on the balcony. After reading this article, you will understand that such an activity is not difficult and not expensive.

Which variety to choose

Maiden grape is a fairly common plant. It is used to decorate fences, house facades, hedges and, of course, balconies and loggias. This plant is a vine up to fifteen meters long. The leaves of virgin grapes can be of different colors. On the vine you can see red and yellow, green and dark blue leaves and branches. It looks beautiful and impressive.

There are two varieties of virgin grapes:

• tripointed;
• five-leaved.

The first variety is the most common. These grapes look a little like plush and have three-lobed leaves, different sizes and colors. Five-leaf maiden vine has green leaves all summer and spring, only in autumn the color changes to bright red. The leaves themselves are oval and five-pointed. The length of the vine reaches 10 meters. The plant, clinging to the smallest protrusions and cracks with its tendrils, is able to climb high up a wall or roof.

Photo 2. Tripointed girlish grapes

Photo 3. Five-leafed virgin grape

Photo 4. Maiden five-leaf grapes in autumn

What you need to grow virgin grapes

If you decide to get maiden grapes to decorate your balcony, then you need to know that its cultivation requires partial shade or full shade. This plant does not like a lot of sun, so on a balcony located on the sunny side, such grapes may not take root. The plants themselves should not be planted too close to each other; it is better to have three meters of free space between them.

To start growing virgin grapes, you should prepare some tools and materials. You will need:

• a cup for planting seedlings (it can be made of paper, plastic or clay);
• film (to protect the sprouts from cold and wind);
• fertilizer for better growth grapes;
• pegs or sticks (to direct the growth of the plant in the desired direction);
• a mesh made of rope (maiden grapes are a vine, it’s easier for her to weave);
• garden tools(pruning scissors, shovel and watering can).

Planting girlish grapes

When purchasing seedlings, pay attention to the roots of the plant. You should not buy grapes with weak roots wrapped in plastic, since such a plant is unlikely to take root. It’s better to spend money on grapes in a pot, even if it costs a little more, but there are more guarantees. Also make sure that the plant is grafted.

The plant grows best on the semi-shade side. The most best place will be where the sun is only half a day. In this case, the grapes will always delight you with their gorgeous crown. Maiden grapes love humus-rich soils. Initially, the cuttings are planted in a small container, and from there the already strong plant can be transplanted to the desired location.

It is better to plant young seedlings in the spring. This is done in a small hole, because the root system is not yet so developed. Mature plant almost replantable all year round. To do this, a hole is made at least fifty centimeters deep and the same width and length. Drainage in the form of small stones is placed in it. After placing the plant in the hole, everything is covered with fertile soil and watered.

Plant care

Growing virgin grapes will not require much effort or significant financial costs from you. The plant itself is quite picky and will only require periodic watering, fertilizing and pruning. In order for girlish grapes to always have a beautiful decorative appearance, it is necessary to keep the soil moist, otherwise it will begin to dry out and cease to be a decoration for your balcony. At the same time, the soil surface must be ventilated, otherwise there is a risk of mold.

In order for the vine to grow well, the soil needs to be fed. In spring or early summer, nitroammophosk is added. This fertilizer requires 40 to 50 grams per square meter. If you grow a plant in small containers, then pour this volume of fertilizer evenly under each bush. When the plant goes to active growth, it needs to be supported organic fertilizer. It is advisable to use the special preparation Kemira Lux or Universal. It should be used 200 grams for each vine.

In addition, other activities that are common for gardeners and gardeners are also needed. In order for the roots of the plant to breathe, it is necessary to periodically loosen the soil. But this must be done carefully (especially near the exit of the trunk from the soil) so as not to damage the roots. Naturally, it is necessary to get rid of weeds, they will take nutrients from the soil.

In order for a plant to grow in the right direction and cover the surface you want, it needs to be directed. Initially this is done using pegs. By tying a young trunk to sticks driven into the soil, you will direct its growth in the desired direction. Then, when the crown has more or less formed, the ropes are pulled. The vine will weave along them. To hold appearance girl grapes in proper form, it is necessary to periodically trim dry and limp leaves. In the same way, you can shape the crown itself, making it more beautiful.

Grape propagation

Maiden grapes can be easily propagated at home. The most common method is propagation using stem cuttings. But it is of little use when growing plants on the balcony. The essence of this method is that a stem up to 2 meters long is buried in the ground. Then, when the cuttings take root, they can be replanted. As you can see, more space is required here, which is not available on the balcony.

The most acceptable method is propagation using wood cuttings. In spring or early summer, small cuttings are cut from an adult branch. They must have formed leaves. Such cuttings are placed in a glass of water and, after a while, young roots will appear, then the plant will be ready for planting.

There is another way - propagation using seeds. But this is done extremely rarely, due to the troublesome nature of such an activity. At the beginning of autumn, ripe fruits are harvested (they are still grapes, albeit decorative ones). They are peeled, and the resulting seeds are immediately planted in the ground to a depth of 1 centimeter. You will have to wait a long time for seedlings, constantly watering the soil and weeding out weeds. Only at the end of June next year will the first shoots appear. As you can see, this method takes a lot of time, which is why it is rarely used.

Growing such a vine will not require much effort or financial expenditure from you. It is enough to buy one cutting, small containers for soil and the soil itself. Planting and care are quite simple. Also, propagation of this plant will not cause much difficulty. By spending a little of your free time, you will get beautiful decoration for your balcony. But with such a plant you can decorate a summerhouse, a fence, and other buildings and structures. Grapes will look beautiful and attractive everywhere.

It is quite possible to grow balcony plants that are pleasing to the eye and at the same time beneficial. Take wild grapes, for example. Many are attracted by the amazing interiors created with their help. And what is very important is that this plant bears fruit remarkably well. Dark blue small berries on clusters persist even in winter.

Varieties

When choosing a grape variety, factors such as:

• decorative effect;
• resistance to diseases and low temperatures;
• fruit quality.

For landscaping the best solution there will be girlish grapes on the balcony. Basically, preference is given to two of its varieties: five-leaved and tripointed. Both of these varieties are unpretentious and frost-resistant. They are ways of independently “clinging” to nearby surfaces. In just a year or two, the plant will cover almost any balcony. The fruits are very small, the berries are not suitable for food.

• trifoliate. This plant is distinguished by three-lobed large leaves of a diamond-shaped, pointed shape, very reminiscent of ivy. The edges of the dark green leaves are glossy along the edges. Small clusters are collected from blue-black fruits with an ashy coating. Reproduction is carried out only vegetatively;
• five-leaved. The five-fingered, oval-shaped leaves remain green in the spring and then in the summer, and change to crimson-red in the fall. The height of the plant can reach 10 m.

Growing grapes on a balcony depends to a large extent on the conditions of its cultivation. For example, the conditions on an open balcony are frost-resistant, which are not particularly susceptible to fungal pathogens. As for the glazed version of the balcony, frost resistance in this case is not so important, and plant tolerance to various fungal diseases comes to the fore. High humidity, which accompanies greenhouse conditions, creates favorable conditions for intensive development of fungal microorganisms.

Wild grapes on the balcony have a beneficial effect on the indoor microclimate, as they have phytoncidal properties, suppress noise, and protect against dust.

For those who only decorative effect not enough, it makes sense to think about varieties such as table varieties.

The grape variety on the balcony must be zoned for a specific climate zone. For example, for the climate of Moscow a variety like Charlie is great or others similar.

Reproduction methods

Maiden grapes are propagated in three ways:

• seeds. They are collected from the berries after ripening, having been cleared of pulp. After planting the seeds in suitable soil They expect the first installments to appear in about 9–10 months, around the end of June. The soil is regularly moistened and weeds are pulled out periodically. This option is rarely used, since growing grapes on a balcony from seeds is quite difficult and takes a lot of time.

• layering. This method is faster and more convenient, but it requires space. The stem should be approximately two meters high. It is buried in waves: a part of the stem with a bud is buried, a piece of the next one is left above the ground, then the next part is buried with a bud, and so on. After a certain period of time, new shoots appear from the buds. With the onset of warm days, the rooted parts are cut off and planted. They continue to grow in small containers until it is time to plant them in the main place.

• cuttings. This is the most convenient option for apartment balconies. With this method, planting material is pre-prepared. In the process of planned pruning, blanks are cut from adult stems in such a way that each of them contains two or three buds. Leaves are removed from the preparations, then they are placed in water. The cuttings should be covered with water to about 2/3 of their length. The roots will begin to appear soon enough - in a month, at the latest - a month and a half. The cuttings, already with roots, are transplanted into containers for seedlings, where the young plants will grow and become stronger. After that, all that remains is to plant them in a permanent container.

How to grow wild grapes on the balcony

Growing grapes on a balcony has the only drawback, which can also be considered an advantage - the active process of abundant growth of branches. This is often due to lack of proper care or improper pruning.

Overgrown foliage serves as good protection against summer heat, and also reduce dampness in the room. Planting virgin grapes in a pot is a simple process.

Landing

Planting takes place in the spring. In this case, pots with seedlings can be placed directly on the floor on the balcony. It is better to plant in a semi-sunny place: neither the scorching sun, under which the plant will dry out, nor the shade, where it will wither, is suitable.

Maiden grapes are grown in wooden containers with a volume of up to 300 liters. The inside of the tub needs to be tarred or impregnated with bitumen. This is a mandatory procedure, as it helps protect the wood from getting wet. There should be drainage holes at the bottom of the container through which excess moisture is removed.

For reference!

A ceramic pot of the required volume will be an even better solution.

Priming

The drainage function is performed by a layer of crushed stone or pebbles approximately 5 cm high. You can prepare the soil mixture yourself. In addition to humus and undepleted soil, it also contains coarse sand. The proportional ratio of components depends on the variety. However, the ratio 5 to 3 and to 2, respectively, can be considered more general.

It is recommended to feed the resulting mixture with nitroammophos or similar complex fertilizer. 100 g of mineral fertilizer is poured into a container with soil and moistened generously. Planting can begin in two to three days. The planting depth should be about 30 cm.

It is possible to grow a wild grape seedling yourself from a cutting, but it is still recommended to buy it in a special nursery.

For reference!

When purchasing, you need to focus on the grafting and roots of the seedling. It should be planted in a container and not wrapped in plastic.

Care

Growing wild grapes is not difficult, and they are also quite picky. To save it beautiful view you don’t need much: the soil needs to be kept moist, fed and trimmed periodically.

The grapes are watered weekly. To maintain soil moisture longer, it is sprinkled with a loose layer of tree bark or pine needles. It is very important that mold does not form in this case, since such a layer does not interfere with the ventilation of the surface.

In the spring or early June, the soil is fed with an agricultural chemical - nitroammophoska (taking approximately 40 to 50 g). Fertilizing is necessary for plant growth. With the beginning of the active growing season, plant reinforcement is stopped.

For reference!

Annually in early spring the soil from the tub is partially replaced with fresh one. Where the roots do not interfere with this, the soil is carefully loosened, removed, and then replaced with a new one.

The soil is periodically loosened to allow the plant's rhizomes to breathe. This is done carefully so as not to damage the root system itself. A mandatory procedure is weeding.

The first years after planting, while the shoot is still short, it trudges along alone, forming small thin branches. Supports are placed nearby. It is to them that the shoots will cling with their antennae. During the growth process, additional rope supports are periodically pulled to guide the growth of the stems. This way the plants will continue to weave further in the intended direction.

To maintain a neat appearance, as well as to form the crown of the grapes, it will be necessary to periodically trim limp and dried branches (leaves).

Pests

Wild grapes are highly resistant to pathogens and pests. However, if aphids are still found on the foliage, the leaves are washed with an alcohol solution or laundry soap.

When wild grapes grow, their dense foliage will protect the balcony from precipitation and provide coolness in the heat.

Maiden grapes (or, as they are also called, “wild”) are simple and cheap way decorate your home. It is unpretentious, grows quickly and wraps around the wall, covering it with bright leaves. How to plant and grow virgin grapes on the balcony?

Girlish grapes on the balcony

Planting girlish grapes on the balcony

In order for the plant to take root, you need to approach the planting process with all responsibility. Let's take it step by step:

First of all, you need to choose the right seedling. If the plant has weak roots or roots wrapped in cellophane, it is better not to purchase it. It is worth paying a little more and buying a sprout in a pot - this way the likelihood that it will take root is much higher;

Sprouts should be planted in the ground in the spring. As for further transplants, they can be carried out at any time of the year. Choose humus soil for planting;

Select a large pot and fill it with soil. Make a hole in it 50 cm deep and wide. Place drainage on the bottom;

Plant the sprout in the ground, cover it with soil, and water it.

If you plan to plant several sprouts, do not forget that they do not like close proximity. The distance between them should be 3 meters.

Growing virgin grapes on the balcony

After the sprout takes root, you need to properly care for it. However, this plant is not at all whimsical, so you can handle its care without any problems.

This grape variety needs to be watered quite often. It is important that the soil remains slightly moist at all times. Also, twice a year (in spring and early summer) the plant needs to be fed. Nitroammofosk is good for this.

Provide the plant with the opportunity to curl. Install pegs and tie it up if necessary. In addition, sometimes loosen the soil to saturate it with oxygen. Do this very carefully, otherwise you may damage the root system.