Reviving Old Grape-vine

[Nu Kua]

We didn't even know it was there for the longest time, hidden as it was beneath a ton of morning glories and blackberry vines, but sure enough, there it was- an old grapevine. I have no idea how old it is, but the house was built in 1943, so maybe it is as old as that. Do they live that long?

Well actually, it can't be that old unless the chain link fence it is tied to was here in 1943, which I doubt. So, who knows.

We've kept the area clear and have been pruning it as per directed. This summer I worked up the soil beneath it some and added compost as well as some pine straw. It just seems like the grapes would like an acidic soil, and pine needles can help with that.
Does anybody know anything at all about reviving grape vines, or how to tend them properly?

[Blu-ray]

We didn't even know it was there for the longest time, hidden as it was beneath a ton of morning glories and blackberry vines, but sure enough, there it was- an old grapevine. I have no idea how old it is, but the house was built in 1943, so maybe it is as old as that. Do they live that long?

Well actually, it can't be that old unless the chain link fence it is tied to was here in 1943, which I doubt. So, who knows.

We've kept the area clear and have been pruning it as per directed. This summer I worked up the soil beneath it some and added compost as well as some pine straw. It just seems like the grapes would like an acidic soil, and pine needles can help with that.
Does anybody know anything at all about reviving grape vines, or how to tend them properly?


We had grape vines in the yard when I was growing up. My father did absolutely nothing to the vine and let it be on it's own. It always provided us with a wonderful yield of grapes every year.

[Nu Kua]

Nothing, he did nothing to it at all? Well that is interesting, now that you mention it, it was the grapes that I found first, before then I thought I was just hacking down blackberries and morning glory vines. So I discovered this thing all covered up by the brambles and it was producing grapes, though barely. So I worked all summer to clear that out, prune the vines as directed, and this year... nothing! I guess the grapes over time had developed a symbiotic relationship with the other stuff and was, by it's own definition, doing just fine, till I had to go mess with it.

Maybe then it didn't fruit this year because it's like a whole new life for it now, and it is having to re-cycle itself, adapt to what is a new environment. I know the compost can only do good in the long run.

These are white grapes, I do not know what kind. What type of grapes did you grow up with? Back home one of our neighbors near entire back yard was covered with scuppernongs. We all would eat from that vine every late summer. Smelled so good, and no grape can ever be better tasting. I think often about my childhood, playing beneath those beautiful grapes.

[Blu-ray]

Nothing, he did nothing to it at all? Well that is interesting, now that you mention it, it was the grapes that I found first, before then I thought I was just hacking down blackberries and morning glory vines. So I discovered this thing all covered up by the brambles and it was producing grapes, though barely. So I worked all summer to clear that out, prune the vines as directed, and this year... nothing! I guess the grapes over time had developed a symbiotic relationship with the other stuff and was, by it's own definition, doing just fine, till I had to go mess with it.

Maybe then it didn't fruit this year because it's like a whole new life for it now, and it is having to re-cycle itself, adapt to what is a new environment. I know the compost can only do good in the long run.

These are white grapes, I do not know what kind. What type of grapes did you grow up with? Back home one of our neighbors near entire back yard was covered with scuppernongs. We all would eat from that vine every late summer. Smelled so good, and no grape can ever be better tasting. I think often about my childhood, playing beneath those beautiful grapes.

We had white, red, and concord. Just let it be from here on out and see what happens. :o)

[Nu Kua]

It is looking beautiful this year. I don't know that we'll get grapes this year, but the plant itself is thriving.
Now about those little shooter plants that come up from the ground surrounding. Should I cut those back or let them develop?

[Rockytrawn]

Don't cut them until vine goes dormant. If the grape has been grafted you can cut them, but if it is on its original stock it doesn;t matter, just wrap them around the old vines. Cutting back can shock plant or introduce fungus and you can lose the vine.