Introduction:

Growing grape vines can be an incredibly rewarding process, providing fresh, delicious fruit or delightful vine foliage to be enjoyed year after year. To get the best results, it’s important to train your grape vines properly. Training your grape vines will help them establish a sturdy structure and maximize their productivity over time. In this article, we will explore three easy ways to train your grape vines for optimal growth and fruit production.

1. Single Guyot System

The Single Guyot System is a popular method used by winemakers and is ideal for backyard grape growers as well. In this system, the grape vine is trained on a single horizontal support wire, which is typically positioned at a height of around 3 feet (90 cm) above the ground.

To use the Single Guyot System:

a. Prune your grape vine back to two or three buds in its first winter.

b. The following spring, select the strongest shoot and remove all others.

c. Tie the selected shoot to a garden stake or a section of bamboo to help it grow vertically.

d. When the shoot reaches the support wire, gently bend it horizontally and tie it securely to the wire so that its buds point upward.

e. Prune back all other shoots that may have grown below the main horizontal shoot.

2. Double Guyot System

Similar to the Single Guyot System, the Double Guyot System involves training grape vines along two horizontal support wires instead of just one. This method can increase fruit production in some cases and may be more suitable if you have a large area of space available.

To use the Double Guyot System:

a. Follow steps a-c from the Single Guyot System.

b. When your main shoot reaches the lower support wire (approximately 2 feet or 60 cm above ground), tie it to the wire alongside another healthy shoot.

c. Allow both shoots to grow along the lower support wire until they reach the upper support wire (approximately 4 feet or 120 cm above ground).

d. Gently bend each shoot horizontally and tie them to the upper support wire, forming a “V” shape.

e. Prune any additional shoots that may have grown below the main horizontal shoots.

3. Four-Arm Kniffin System

The Four-Arm Kniffin System is a more complex training method that is best suited for larger grape vine varieties. In this system, grape vines are trained along two horizontal support wires, but with two shoots on each wire, forming a total of four arms.

To use the Four-Arm Kniffin System:

a. Follow steps a-c from the Single Guyot System.

b. When your main shoot reaches the lower support wire (approximately 2 feet or 60 cm above ground), tie it alongside another healthy shoot.

c. Allow both shoots to grow along the lower support wire until they reach the midpoint between the two support wires.

d. Gently bend each shoot upward and tie them to the upper support wire, creating two “M” shapes on each wire.

e. Prune any additional shoots that may have grown below the main horizontal shoots.

Conclusion

By implementing one of these three easy methods for training grape vines, you can be well on your way to enjoying an abundant harvest of grapes while maintaining a tidy and aesthetically pleasing vineyard. Be patient and tend to your vines regularly as they grow, and you’ll soon be rewarded with flourishing grapevines that yield bountiful harvests for years to come.