Growing Grapes by the Fence – My Unexpected Garden Treasure

I recall to this day the moment when I first observed the small vine growing in the wire fence, which bordered my property's edge. At first, I barely gave it a second glance merely a weak plant striving to find an adequate location to grow in sunlight. However, this small, persistent plant would prove to be amongst the greatest delights of my garden experience.

It is a narrative about my grapes that I have cultivated along the fence of my garden in Pretoria. I took the grapes from a mere vine, one that probably aroused one's curiosity and grew it to a vine with full bunches of green grapes hanging in the sun. Besides, this is also a story about patience, surprising oneself, and discovering the beauty of nature in those little corners of your garden which you had never expected.

You'll see how it all happens:

Looking ahead the humble beginning when the first grapevine started to grow through the fence. The Growth as it unfolded, leaf by leaf, basking in the Pretoria sun. Growing grapes! The pleasure of finding my very first clusters of green grapes!

Reflection  Lessons Learned Regarding Patience, Soil, & Small Miracles

Anticipate a story combining real world garden experience, local conditions, and grape production tips, accompanied by three original pictures of different stages of development of a grape vine.

A Quiet Start by the Fence

I remember it started as only a few bright green leaves, reaching for the light that broke through between the wire mesh holes. I'd planted it there as an afterthought, wondering if grapes could even grow in this corner of my yard, a dry corner nestled between soil that is more sand than soil and the cold, hard steel of the mesh itself.

It seems to me that the weather out here in Pretoria is pretty tough for plants to survive. The sun is extremely hot, mainly in places such as Soshanguve, where it is hardly ever shadowed. This is the reason why, before planting, I laid a layer of composted compost with old manure to provide them with a source of nourishment to fetch from below. As I have also come to understand grapes lead to root rot from excessive water, I further established that they prefer slightly loose but well draining soil.

I was watering it with a small amount every few days, never soaking the soil but sufficient to prevent the roots from getting too hot. I could see that this was what the vine liked, because otherwise, if I watered it too little, it would become limp; water it too much, and the leaves would get yellow.

And so, it was one day when I woke up and looked around, and I could see new growth all over the place. The vine had struck its roots. It started to stretch across the fence as if this is where it would remain for several years.

When the Vines Came Alive

Mid season, the vines grew into a sort of jungle. Every tendril stretched for support, clinging to the fence as if nurtured to grow this way from birth. I encouraged the vines, seeing to it that they received adequate air circulation, which is imperative for grapes' development, as I quickly found out after noticing a hint of mildew accumulating on the lower leaves during a humid week, of course.

I pruned away all those congested leaves, leaving enough for photosynthesis but removing anything that impeded air circulation. For vines in Pretoria's summer, this is what passes for routine, what keeps vines healthy versus what inspires fungus induced headaches.

I also began to fertilize this plant from time to time using compost tea. This is a lowly fertilizer, which is ideal for grapes, as it would not damage the roots. Eventually, the leaves turned green, which showed that this plant enjoyed where it lived.

The First Grapes Appear

While  I was watering my vegetables late one afternoon, I found them small, round balls that were hiding under leaves. At firts I thought they new shoots, but a second look, I discovered that they were grapes!

I laughed alone that day. After months of watering, pruning, and wishing, there they finally were my reward. Grapes that grew in those very same spots by my fence, in that corner I'd deemed useless because of the lack of water.

As time passed, those small grapes grew to be plump. They maintained a pale greenish color, with each bunch hidden slightly behind the leaves.What I did see, however, was that birds were starting to come heavily around the plants, so I took some pieces of shiny aluminum foil to hang around a harmless method to scare the birds which are commonly used by gardeners and works great!

By the time the summer was halfway through, the bunches had become very heavy, and the simple fence that I had started with, had turned into a green wall covered with grapes.

Caring for Grapes in Pretoria's Climate

Grapes require a lot of  heat, which Pretoria's climate provides for them in abundance, but excessive exposure to sunlight may damage leaves, which is why I positioned the fence to create partial shade for them in the late afternoons.

Here's what I found to work best for my vine:

Watering: I watered my vine twice a week during hot weather, allowing the top soil to dry slightly between waterings.

Feeding: I used compost tea at an interval of three weeks during plant growth, but reduced this during winter months.

Pruning: I pruned it after harvesting by reducing old stems to help the vine get ready for dormancy, thus increasing its strength every year.

Support: The fence itself served as my trellis; grapes prefer to grow in an upright manner, after all.

These easy steps, when done repeatedly, made all the difference. Grapes may appear to be fancy, but they're very hardy plants when established.

Lessons from the Fence

An idea began as an experiment; it evolved into a lesson in life. That old wire fence to me now represents how, even in poor soil, life will find a way to flourish. I've learned in gardening that it's not about making things grow; it's about providing what's needed to grow, then leaving it up to Mother Nature to do her work

Even to this day, I am amazed by the grapevine. Every year brings forth something novel, and every crop of grapes serves as a reminder to be patient. This plant has taught me that even in the driest of spots, I can bring forth fruit if I tend to it steadily. 

Next season, I'll be careful to prune my grapevine to promote more lateral growth. I've also begun to mulch around it to keep it moist. I'm really looking forward to bigger grapes, maybe enough to give to neighbors or even enough to make grape jam! 

And yes, I am already thinking of running another section of the fence for a second vine, maybe a red grape this time to provide a contrast to the green of the first vine. 

Reflection: A vine of grapes by my fence taught me that sometimes beauty doesn't flourish in the nicest of spots but in hidden areas if it's just allowed to grow. Grapevines themselves hold stories of time, patience, and a little trust in nature.