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Common Name: Grape

General Information

Vitis vinifera is a vigorous, deciduous, climbing shrub producing woody stems that can be 15 - 20 metres long. The plant attaches itself to the surrounding vegetation by means of coiled tendrils.
A widely grown and very popular fruit throughout the world, the plant also has a range of other edible and medicinal uses as well as supplying dyes, oil, cream of tartar and wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Southern and central Europe east to central Asia and northern Iran

Habitat

Riversides and damp woods[]. Grows on the banks of the Thames at Kew in Britain[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Climber
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Grapes are natives of temperate to subtropical areas, but cultivars have been developed that can be grown at higher elevations in the tropics, generally between 300 - 2,000 metres[]. The plant grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 38°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -20°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -3°c[]. The plant grows most satisfactorily when the winter is sufficiently cold to ensure a period of complete dormancy each year[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 850mm, but tolerates 400 - 1,200mm[].
Succeeds in sun or partial shade though a warm sunny sheltered position is required for the fruit to ripen[]. Prefers a deep rich moist well-drained moderately fertile loam[, ]. Grows best in a calcareous soil, but dislikes excessively chalky soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8.5[].
Reported yields of fruit range from 10 - 90 tonnes per hectare[].
Grapes are very susceptible to attacks by phylloxera, this disease is especially prevalent in some areas of Europe and it almost destroyed the grape industry. However, American species of grapes that are resistant to phylloxera are now used as rootstocks and this allows grapes to be grown in areas where the disease is common.
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].
The flowers are intensely fragrant[].
Any pruning should be carried out when the plants are dormant otherwise they bleed profusely[].
The cultivated grape is thought to have been derived from V. Vinifera sylvestris. (Gmel.)Hegi. This form has dioecious flowers and produces small black grapes.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or dried for winter use[, , , ]. A fully ripened fresh fruit is sweet, juicy and delicious[]. The dried fruits are the raisins, sultanas and currants of commerce, different varieties producing the different types of dried fruit. The fruit juice can be concentrated and used as a sweetener[]. This fruit is widely used in making wine[].

Leaves - cooked[]. Young leaves are wrapped around other foods and then baked, they impart a pleasant flavour[].

Young tendrils - raw or cooked[].

The flower clusters are used as a vegetable[].

An edible oil similar to sunflower oil is obtained from the seed[, ]. It needs to be refined before it can be eaten[]. A polyunsaturated oil, it is suitable for mayonnaise and cooking, especially frying[].

Sap - raw. Used as a drink, it has a sweet taste. The sap can be harvested in spring and early summer, though it should not be taken in quantity or it will weaken the plant.

The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[].

Cream of tartar, also known as potassium bitartrate, a crystalline salt, is extracted from the residue of pressed grapes, and from the sediment of wine barrels. It is used in making baking powder[].

Medicinal

Grapes are a nourishing and slightly laxative fruit that can support the body through illness, especially of the gastro-intestinal tract and liver[]. Because the nutrient content of grapes is close to that of blood plasma, grape fasts are recommended for detoxification[].
The fresh fruit is antilithic, constructive, cooling, diuretic and strengthening[, ]. A period of time on a diet based entirely on the fruit is especially recommended in the treatment of torpid liver or sluggish biliary function[]. The fruit is also helpful in the treatment of varicose veins, haemorrhoids and capillary fragility[].
The dried fruit is demulcent, cooling, mildly expectorant, laxative and stomachic[]. It has a slight effect in easing coughs[].

The leaves, especially red leaves, are anti-inflammatory and astringent[, , , ]. A decoction is used in the treatment of threatened abortion, internal and external bleeding, cholera, dropsy, diarrhoea and nausea[, , ]. It is also used as a wash for mouth ulcers and as douche for treating vaginal discharge[]. Red grape leaves are also helpful in the treatment of varicose veins, haemorrhoids and capillary fragility[]. The leaves are harvested in early summer and used fresh or dried[].

The seed is anti-inflammatory and astringent[, , ].

The sap of young branches is diuretic[]. It is used as a remedy for skin diseases[, ] and is also an excellent lotion for the eyes[, , ].

The tendrils are astringent and a decoction is used in the treatment of diarrhoea[].

The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Dominating', 'Inflexible' and 'Ambitious'[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Grapes grow well in the company of hyssop, chives, basil and charlock[]. They grow badly with radishes, both the grapes and the radishes developing an off taste[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the fresh or dried leaves[].

An oil from the seed is used for lighting and as an ingredient in soaps, paints etc[, ].

Cream of tartar, extracted from the residue of pressed grapes, is used in making fluxes for soldering[].

Especially when growing in hotter countries, the stems of very old vines attain a good size and have been used to supply a very durable timber[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[]. Six weeks cold stratification improves the germination rate, and so stored seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is obtained. Germination should take place in the first spring, but sometimes takes another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in early summer.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, December/January in a frame. These cuttings can be of wood 15 - 30cm long or they can be of short sections of the stem about 5cm long with just one bud at the top of the section. In this case a thin, narrow strip of the bark about 3cm long is removed from the bottom half of the side of the stem. This will encourage callusing and the formation of roots. Due to the size of these cuttings they need to be kept in a more protected environment than the longer cuttings.
Layering.