Wild or girlish grape (Parthenocissus) is an unpretentious decorative winter-hardy deciduous plant. If there is a desire to obscure a part of a garden plot or a house from prying eyes, then this woody liana will ideally disguise everything that is needed with its dense carpet, and will also give the effect of an old mansion. Experienced gardeners prefer this plant for its thirst for life and its ability, with minimal care, to become a real decoration for a long period – from April to the first frost.
This perennial belongs to deciduous plants. The foliage of wild grapes changes color depending on the season. In early spring, it turns into rich light and dark green tones, and towards the beginning of autumn, crimson-red and brown shades appear. Around August-September, inedible fruits of black or dark blue color ripen on the grapes. An ornamental plant is not susceptible to diseases and is resistant to the appearance of pests.
Wild grape care
Location
Wild grapes grow well in shade, partial shade and in a sunny area. When planting a plant along a plastered wall, it must be borne in mind that some grape varieties can damage the surface of the wall by sprouting into it..
An ornamental perennial can also be grown in a flower pot at home. In the warm season, he feels great on the balcony or veranda, and for the winter he needs to be moved to a cool room..
Wild grapes are also used as a ground cover plant, but it will not be possible to get rid of it in the future. It is worth thinking carefully before planting a shrub in this way..
Support construction
The vine has the ability to grow very quickly, flying around everything in its path, even smooth plastered walls. When choosing a landing site, it is necessary to immediately build a reliable and strong support, which, even after a few years, will be able to hold the heavy green mass. Near the wall of the house, it can be trellises, and in an open area – a fence made of metal mesh.
In the first year of grape life, it is recommended to fix young shoots on a support and direct them in the right direction..
Pruning
Formative pruning of wild grapes has been carried out regularly since the second season. Since the perennial is easily propagated by self-sowing, it is recommended to cut off the grapes in a timely manner. This will save the nearby area from young growth, as well as from berry mash, which is possible with massive shedding of berries in early autumn..
Shelter for the winter
The shelter procedure is very relevant for residents of central Russia, where winters are more severe and frosts are long. A reliable shelter will help keep the root of the vine from freezing, but sometimes young shoots cannot be saved. True, this does not have much significance for the further development of grapes. Regular sanitary pruning in spring will restore the entire shrub in a short amount of time..
Watering and feeding
Moistening and nourishing the soil is important only for young grape seedlings, but an adult plant does well without these two procedures on its own.
Breeding methods for wild grapes
Self-seeding reproduction
This breeding method does not require human intervention. Wild grapes spread very easily and quickly throughout the area with the help of their many fruits, which fall off after ripening..
Reproduction by root suckers
The offshoots of the root part of the plant are planted in a prepared area in a fertilized soil and watered abundantly. Distance between plantings – from 70 cm to 1 m.
Propagation by cuttings
Cut cuttings (10-15 cm long) can be placed in the water for rooting or laid horizontally in the soil in the selected area in prepared grooves to a depth of at least two centimeters. From above, the grooves with cuttings must be covered with earth and tamped, after which abundant watering is carried out. With daily watering, rooting will occur in 10-15 days..
Propagation by seedlings
It is necessary to purchase seedlings of one or two years of age. In the planting holes (about 50 cm deep), you first need to pour a drainage layer consisting of crushed stone and sand, and then a soil mixture (from peat, sand and garden soil), into which the seedling is planted. Distance between plantings – 1 meter.
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