Grapes Ideas, Tips & Guides

Matthew Clark

Your dull walls can be transformed by some quick greenery and colorful blooms of these fast growing indoor vines, making your interiors look stunning!

A native of China, tea leaves  were delivered around the world in Clipper ships, created the furore at the Boston Tea Party during the American war of independence and still provides badly paid work for workers in India, Sri Lanka, Kenya and China.

What do you think – Are Grapes and Lychees related? Are they distant cousins or mere strangers in the fruit world? Let’s find out!

How to Naturalize Grape Hyacinth (Muscari) in Lawns

Powdery mildew is a common disease on many types of plants. In fact, it is one of the oldest plant diseases on record – Theophrastis wrote of powdery mildew on roses in 300 B.C. Although different species of fungi cause the disease on different plants (Erysiphe infects vegetable crops and flowers; Podosphaera species infects apples and stone fruits; Sphaerotheca species infects berries, roses, some vegetable crops, and stone fruits; and Uncinula necator infects grapes), the infections are all characterized by a powdery white to gray fungal growth on leaves, stems and heads.

This weekend looks to be the last weekend of summer weather, as next week rain is coming in and the temperature will definitely feel more autumnal. Still we’ve had a lovely Summer, albeit a little wetter than last year and this caused problems with blight on most of my tomatoes and some of my potatoes. But other things thrived like courgettes, onions and sweetcorn. So swings and roundabouts really. But that’s the joy of gardening, you never know what each year will bring, I think that’s why I love it so much.

The garden is a bit like a class of school children. When the teacher is around they all behave perfectly, but if the teacher is away and a supply teacher comes in, then they mess about…..I know because I was a kid once.

You might know about Croton and Polka Dot indoor plants. But did you know that Begonia, Fittonia, Ctenanthe, Tradescantia, Stromanthe, Cordyline, and Neoregelia also have varieties with 4 color leaves?

From the pointy foliage of the holly to the stand-out agaves, plants with prickly leaves can be quite a unique addition to any garden!

We’re in  Dunstable, Massachusetts (Zone 5b) visiting Tingshu’s beautiful garden. We’ve visited her garden before and last week she shared with us some of the beautiful flowering trees in her front yard. Today we’re back to see the spring bloom in her back garden.

These climbing beauties, with their vibrant red stems contrasting against the rich green of five-part leaves, are a must-have for any plant enthusiast.

Blue moths are not just a mesmerizing sight in your backyard but a symbol of a thriving ecosystem.

Have you always longed to make wine from tasty sun-warmed grapes gathered from your own backyard? While I live in the ideal wine-growing region (USDA Zone 9b) near the well-known Napa Valley, you’ll be amazed to learn that backyard viticulture is entirely possible anywhere within USDA Zones 4 through 10. Growing wine grapes isn’t hard, but there are a number of key requirements that guarantee success, beginning with growing the wine you love! If you adore a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon at the end of the day, plant Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. When Chardonnay is your preference, you’ll need to grow grapes that produce a full-bodied Chardonnay. The following are some viticulture tips for planning and planting your own personal vineyard.

There are a few scents that to me unequivocally evoke spring—besides the earthy fragrance of thawing soil. Hyacinth blooms fall into that category, and are among my favorite spring-blooming bulbs. They usually bloom between early spring and mid spring, and their blooms can last up to four weeks. Learning how and when to plant hyacinth bulbs will ensure you get to enjoy those luscious, fragrant flowers the following spring. Read on for timing and planting tips.

If you’re looking for a way to add a touch of elegance and serenity to your garden, the Dark Blue Flowers are the perfect choice! Let’s look at these gorgeous blooms and pick the ones you love the most!

Hi GPODers, this is Joseph, your GPOD editor. Fall is here in my Indiana garden, which means bulb-planting time! I’ve been going through old pictures looking at some of my favorite bulbs and scheming which ones I need to add to my new garden. Here are some things I’ve got on my list. What are your favorite bulbs? Send in pics! I’d love to share them on the GPOD.

The fresh vibrant greens of summer begin to change when September arrives. Burnt oranges, buttery golds and rich reds dominate the garden canvas as leaves crisp and fall.

How to Grow and Care for Oregon Grape Holly Berberis spp. (syn. Mahonia)

Tiny objects are everywhere, as you see tiny toys, houses, and gardens, but have you also seen some tiny vegetables and fruits? If not, you need to search them and look at these plants as they have a very Instagrammable appearance which you will absolutely adore. There is something fascinating about looking at small objects, and no matter what you see in a small dimension, you will feel happier, especially if these are represented by cute and tiny fruits and vegetables that you don’t have the opportunity to see every day. Growing something in your garden will always be a satisfying process, as you can watch how your plants transform, and you will also be able to taste them once your plants are harvested. But we think it is funnier to grow plants in miniature and try something new from the usual alternatives you find on the market. And if you thought that they don’t have the same nutritional benefits because of their small look, you are mistaken, as even if they are so little, they still give plenty of vitamins and minerals. 

Wondering – Can Ducks Eat Grapes? The answer might surprise you! Whether you’re a seasoned duck owner or new to the game, feeding your feathered friends the right diet is crucial for their well-being. Get ready to dive deep into the do’s and don’ts of feeding grapes to ducks, and discover if this popular fruit is a treat or a trick for your quacking companions.

From well-known favorites like grapevines to unique varieties like chayote, there’s a vine out there for every taste bud. Check out our guide to discover the Best Edible Vines you can grow in your own backyard.

Garden arches are one of the simplest, yet most eye-catching ways to support climbing plants, bringing additional flowers and greenery to your outdoor space. While fences and walls are instantly improved by a flowering wisteria or well-maintained ivy, a garden arch offers the chance to introduce climbing plants anywhere in your garden, not just along the boundaries.

Apparently more Brits watch gardening programmes than tuned in for Game of Thrones. I can see why – in the penultimate season of GoT the action was so slow that it would have been more interesting to go outside and watch the plants grow. I didn’t bother watching the latest season (but yes, I know who died, thanks).

Last Sunday I wanted to buy some wooden planters for the vines, so that they can clamber up the arbour, so we set off on a bit of a garden centre ‘crawl’ to find what we wanted – for them to fix to the arbour they had to be within a certain size range. And to fit within the budget they had to be within a certain price range…

The new grapevines I ordered (from Victoriana Nursery Gardens) arrived last week. The planters for them should arrive this week…. I want the vines to grow over the arbour, and we’ve chosen a pair of wooden planters that can be fixed to the arbour, so that the whole lot can be moved together should the need ever arise. The vines are going to be long-term residents of the garden, after all. It won’t be too long before I can enjoy cooking with vine leaves, although a decent crop of seedless dessert grapes might take a little longer.

The microbes (bacteria, algae and fungi) that coexist with plants influence everything from fruit colour and flavour to yield. How would microgravity affect this complex ecosystem? A new experiment on the International Space Station aims to answer that very question.

Southern California has many flowering plants that are often used for landscaping. But if you have young children or pets that are likely to put things in their mouths, be aware that some of our colorful garden favorites can be dangerous. Here are some commonly grown beautiful plants that are toxic if ingested. Use caution if you put them in your garden.

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A cherry plum, sweet, thin-skinned and very prolific (you’ll also find it sold under ‘Red Grape Sugar Plum’). It was in the top three of our recent taste test and everyone liked it for its strong tomato flavour that’s sweet but not overly so, and its firm not mushy texture. It has a slight acidity running through it which all sweet tomatoes need. It ripens quite late compared to ‘Sungold’ and produces for a long period of time. It’s lovely in a mixed salad with the larger varieties. 

Look out in other gardens for great bulbs to grow for next spring. This Grape Hyacinth called Muscari Azureum is a clear soft blue that is recommended for naturalising. Muscari Valerie Finnis is also blue whilst most of the  other species and varieties flower in shades of purple. Muscari grow well in pots where the foliage can look interesting.

Muscadines are our native, southern grape. Unlike bunch grapes, muscadines have thick, tart skin. The meat of the fruit is very sweet and flavorful and good for fresh eating (nature’s sweet-tart), preserving, and wine-making. The advantages of muscadines over bunch grapes are that they are much more heat-tolerant and disease resistant. Scuppernongs or bullaces are two more colloquial names for the nutritious fruit.