I'm considering building a patio pergola primarily for growing table grapes, as I really appreciate practical home vegetation. I've handled fall pruning and leaf cleanup without much trouble. However, I'm looking for some perspectives on why this might not be such a great idea. Can someone talk me out of it?
3 Answers
Go for it! Just keep in mind that grapevines take a while to start producing fruit, so it’s definitely a long-term project. I planted various vines eight years ago on my pergola, and now it’s created the best atmosphere even if it’s starting to wear down the structure a bit. Totally worth it!
I tried growing hops on mine, and while it looked amazing for a while, I faced a lot of pest problems. Aphids took over, leading to a mess on my deck with black slime from dead aphids. Plus, grapes attract pests like earwigs, Japanese beetles, and birds that love to munch and mess with the grapes. If you decide to use pesticides, it might just complicate things. That said, if you want to give grapes a go, you could always switch to something less troublesome like wisteria or honeysuckle later on!
Watch out for Japanese beetles! They've been a real nuisance for my grapevines, just tearing through the leaves. It's something to consider if you're set on growing grapes.