Vitis

< Horticulture
Vitis

Grapes
Genus:Vitis
Family:Vitaceae
Type:Vines
Weediness:All species can be agressive
Pollination:Insects
Toxicity and edibility:Fruits and leaves are edible

A grape is the fruit that grows on the woody vines of the family Vitaceae. Grapes grow in clusters of 6 to 300, and can be black, blue, golden, green, purple, red, pink, brown, peach or white.

Description

Plants in this genus are woody vines which climb using tendrils. The alternate leaves are simple, palmately veined and often lobes. Flowers are produced in clusters of 6-300. The fruits are berries with 1-6 hard seeds.

Species

Many species of grapevines exist, including:

There are many varieties of grapevines; most are cultivars of V. vinifera.

Hybrid grapes also exist, and these are primarily crosses between Vitis vinifera and one or more varieties of Vitis labrusca, ../Vitis riparia/ or Vitis aestivalis. Hybrids tend to be less susceptible to frost and disease (notably phylloxera), but wine from some hybrids may have a little of the characteristic "foxy" odor of Vitis labrusca.

Uses

They can be eaten raw or used for making jam, grape juice, jelly, wine and grape seed oil. Cultivation of grapevines occurs in vineyards, and is calleviticulture. One who studies and practices growing grapes for wine is called a viticulturalist.

Raisins are the dried fruit of the grapevine, and the name actually comes from the French word for "grape". Wild grapevines are often considered a nuisance weed, as they cover other plants with their usually rather aggressive growth.

The leaves of the grape vine itself are considered edible and are used in the production of dolmades.

Maintenance

The most important maintenance requirement for grapes is regular pruning. Vines should be pruned back to spurs while dormant, in order to ensure good air circulation and keep the plants from getting out of hand.

Adequate calcium should be maintained in the soil if growing for fruit.

Propagation

Cultivars are almost always grafted.

Pests and diseases

Scorch, Wilt, Dieback

Powdery Mildews

Downy Mildews

Diebacks

Bunch Rots

White Molds

Aphids

Scales

Hoppers

Mealybugs

Bugs

Flies

Beetles

Caterpillars

Sawflies

Wasps

Bees

Mites

Gallery

References

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