Growing grapes in an apartment: varieties and methods at home

Not every person has a personal plot where he can grow vegetables and berries. In this case, it is recommended to pay attention to simple and affordable ways of cultivating crops at home. If you study the step-by-step instructions and strictly follow all the steps, choose the right variety, growing grapes in city apartments will be successful and will not cause any particular difficulties.

The best varieties of indoor grapes

At home, several varieties of grapes specially adapted for this are grown:

1. The most popular is rhomboid cissus. It is a herbaceous type of vine. It has trifoliate leaves that are diamond-shaped and dark green in color. Each leaf is characterized by a serrated edge. The stems and petioles of this variety of grapes have slight pubescence and small antennae, with which the vine clings to the support. If pollination is carried out correctly, small flowers are formed on the grapes, from which small berries are then formed, which have a pleasant taste. Of all the varieties of indoor grapes, cissus rhomboid is the most unpretentious.
2. Antarctic cissus. The leaves of this herbaceous vine are dark green and egg-shaped. They are arranged alternately and do not exceed 10 cm in length. All stems and antennae are densely pubescent with brown hairs. Leaves with serrated edges. Flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences.
3. Cissus multicolored. One of the most demanding growing conditions. Leaflets with a serrated edge are arranged alternately. The color of the surface of the leaves is reddish-green, the lower part is purple. The stems and petioles have the same shade.

Tetrastigma is rarely grown indoors, as it has heavy vines and is more suitable for planting in greenhouses.

Subtleties of growing crops at home

So that the process of growing grapes does not cause difficulties, they study the requirements of the plant for soil, lighting and organize competent agrotechnical care for the plant.

Preparing the substrate and container

For growing grapes in an apartment, it is important to choose suitable containers, this can be done in pots or tubs. In the first year, they take a flower pot with a volume of 5 liters. For the 2-3rd year of cultivation, the bushes are transplanted into a container that has a conical shape and a volume of 10 liters.

For the full development of the grape bush at home, prepare the soil with the following composition:

1. Sod land - 1/3 tsp
2. Soil substrate - 1/3 tsp
3. River sand - 1/3 tsp
4. Full mineral fertilizer - 0.5 cups.
5. Wood ash - 1 cup.

Soil for planting vines can also be purchased at a gardening store, as long as it has a neutral reaction.

Seating algorithm

It is recommended to plant a plant in the last days of March or early April. To grow he althy and fruitful grapes on the windowsill, follow the following algorithm of actions:

1. Purchase either a two-year-old or a well-developed one-year-old seedling.
2. 3 days before planting the seedlings in the ground, their roots are cut by 10 cm and lowered into the water. It is recommended to add any root former there, for example, Kornevin.
3. A small mound of prepared soil mixture is poured onto the bottom of the selected container.
4. A vine seedling is placed on it and its roots are carefully straightened, covered with earth.
5. Irrigate the soil and top up the soil to the edge of the container.
6. They install plastic caps on the seedlings with holes drilled in them for air circulation. As soon as the buds begin to bloom, they are removed.

Features of plant care

There is nothing difficult in the agrotechnical care of grape seedlings. All the plants need - watering, top dressing, timely pruning and preventive procedures.

Temperature

The temperature for home grapes in summer and autumn is preferably moderate, not exceeding 25 degrees. For the winter, cut bushes are transferred to a room where the temperature is in the range of 12-15 degrees. For multi-colored cissus, a higher summer temperature is recommended, in winter - at least 16 degrees.

Humidity

If multi-colored cissus is grown in an apartment, it needs high humidity. Therefore, it is recommended to spray the plant weekly and sometimes give it a bath in the shower. The remaining varieties of homemade grapes are not so demanding on indicators of humidity; they tolerate dry air normally. The only thing that negatively affects their development is extreme heat. During such periods, the air in the room is humidified with a diffuser.

Lighting

For the full development of home grapes, lighting is required for at least 10 hours a day. If the bushes are grown on the northern windowsills, organize additional lighting using fluorescent lamps.

In the case when the plants were placed on the south side of the house, they will have to shade them at noon so that the scorching rays of the sun do not burn the grapes.

Irrigation

Abundant and regular watering is necessary for grape bushes all spring and summer. In autumn and winter, moisten the plants moderately, otherwise the roots will rot. Insufficient irrigation during the flowering and berry formation period leads to low yields, in addition, the grapes will grow small and sour. Therefore, regularly monitor the condition of the soil, preventing it from drying out. The water from the pan is drained so that it does not stagnate and does not damage the root system of the seedlings.

Feeding and fertilizer

Growth and development of grapes at home are intensive, so you can not do without adding nutrients. Use fertilizers for non-flowering plants, which are purchased at gardening stores. In the spring, compositions with an increased amount of nitrogen are preferable; in autumn, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are preferred. In winter, they stop feeding the grapes.

Shaping and trimming

With the advent of spring, they are engaged in sanitary and anti-aging pruning so that the grape bushes look attractive. Fruiting vines must be shortened to 5-8 eyes. The tops of the shoots are pinched for better branching. The shape of the houseplant is given at its discretion.

Regulations for transfer and transshipment

Due to the fact that grapes grow and develop quite quickly in room conditions, they are transplanted annually. Do this until the bushes are 5 years old. In the future, it will be enough to transplant the plant in a year or two.

They do it in the fall, having previously prepared a larger container and a fertile mixture that was used when planting grapes. Pre-water the earth in a pot and carefully, with a lump of soil, remove the plant from the container. The gaps are covered with new soil and lightly compacted.

Harvest and storage of crops

Homemade grapes are harvested in September, when the berries are fully ripe. They store the fruits in different ways - they freeze them for the winter, prepare compotes from them, and use them to create wine and liqueurs. Fresh grapes are stored in the refrigerator for no more than a week.

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