Girlish grapes, or virgin grapes (lat.parthenocissus)- a genus of plants of the family Grape, which has about 10 species that grow wild in Asia and North America. Latin name comes from the Greek words meaning "virgin" and "ivy" and is associated with the plant's ability to produce fruit without pollination. Three species of this genus are grown as ornamental plants. Girlish grapes in landscape design it has been used since the 17th century for decorating gazebos and terraces, decorating walls of houses and outbuildings, creating hedges and even as a ground cover plant.

• Landing: sowing seeds - throughout the season.
• Bloom: the plant is grown as an ornamental deciduous plant.
• Lighting: bright sunlight, bright diffused light or partial shade.
• The soil: any cultivated, but best of all - loams with a reaction from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
• Watering: rare (3-4 times per season), but abundant (10 liters for each plant), between waterings, the soil in the trunk circle should dry out.
• Top dressing: at the beginning of summer, Nitroammofoska is added to the water for irrigation, and in the middle of summer, a solution of complex mineral fertilizer is added to the trunk circle. The trunk circle is mulched with compost, peat or humus, and the thickness of the mulch layer should be 5-6 cm. In the fall, this mulch is embedded in the soil.
• Garter: the plant needs support only until it begins to develop antennae, clinging to any roughness.
• Cropping: the plant needs formative pruning, which is best done in early spring.
• Reproduction: seeds, but more often in a vegetative way: cuttings, layering and root suckers.
• Pests: aphid.
• Diseases: rot.

Read more about the cultivation of maiden grapes below.

Girlish grapes - description

Many lovers consider this plant to be a wild grape, but this is not so: maiden grapes have nothing to do with edible grapes. It is a large deciduous, less often evergreen liana, the old branches of which are covered with dense bark. The leaves of the plant are complex, palmate, sometimes three-lobed, located on long petioles. In the spring and summer, the leaves of the maiden grape are dark green, and in the fall they take on a bright purple hue. Curly shoots of liana, clinging to the support with branched antennae, can reach a length of 15-20 m. Scalate hanging inflorescences develop opposite to leaves or in their axils. Inflorescences consist of bisexual or staminate flowers with a greenish corolla. The fruit is an inedible dark blue berry.

What is the appeal of girlish grapes for gardeners and designers? It is decorative throughout the season, provides a dense camouflage curtain, is not afraid of frost, grows on any soil, it does not need a large feeding area, it is resistant to diseases and pests, it grows very quickly, does not require feeding, it multiplies easily and perfectly protects any walls from dust, overheating, rain, wind, and also eliminates dampness near the foundation and even indoors.

The plant also has disadvantages: firstly, grape shoots crawl under the roof and destroy it, and if they fall into the gutter, they clog the drain. Secondly, the aggressive roots of maiden grapes spread for several meters around, causing disturbance to other plants, and can cause destruction of the foundation. Thirdly, girlish grapes wake up for a very long time in spring, and the sight of its naked, matted shoots against the background of a green garden does not inspire optimism.

However, if you wish, you can put up with all these shortcomings, since the decorativeness and unpretentiousness of girlish grapes is beyond praise.

Planting maiden grapes in the garden

When and where to plant maiden grapes

You can propagate girlish grapes different ways, but if you are in no hurry and love experiments, we recommend that you try to grow girlish grapes from seeds. Sowing can be done throughout the season. Before spring or summer sowing, seeds must undergo stratification, for which they are first kept in cold water to swell, then put in a container of wet sand and placed in a vegetable box of the refrigerator for two months, where they are kept at a temperature of about 5 ºC. If you decide to sow the seeds of maiden grapes before winter, in late September or early October, then you only need to keep them for 3-4 days in cold water for swelling, and you do not need to stratify them: during the winter months in the soil they will undergo natural stratification, and will rise together next year. Whenever you sow a girl's grape, its seeds are pre-soaked in water.

Maiden grapes do not care where to grow, however, its decorative effect directly depends on the degree of illumination: the color of grape leaves in the sun is always brighter. And girlish grapes grow faster in a sunny area. Maiden grapes grow poorly where a cold wind blows in autumn. Avoid planting near water pipes, sewers, or wires. Better to choose a location near plastered brick walls, concrete or wooden fences, gazebos or sheds.

How to plant girlish grapes

As already mentioned, any cultivated soil is suitable for girlish grapes, however the best soil for him - loamy soils with a neutral, slightly acidic or slightly alkaline pH. Seeds are sown in loosened soil to a depth of 1 cm, sealed and watered.

Maiden grape care

How to grow girlish grapes

Growing maiden grapes basically comes down to sparse watering during prolonged droughts, removing weeds and pruning strings, but if you want to see the plant in its best shape, take a little more time than necessary.

Young plants need support until they develop tenacious tendrils that can hold the vine on a rough surface. You will have to water the maiden grapes 3-4 times per season, spending 10 liters of water for each plant at a time. Watering is carried out when the topsoil dries out under the bush.

At the very beginning of summer, Nitroammofosk should be added to the water for irrigation, and at the height of the season it is advisable to feed the maiden grapes with complex mineral fertilizer... After watering or rain, the soil around the plant needs to be loosened, and if you find areas with bare roots, add soil under the grapes. A good effect is provided by mulching the trunk circle with a layer of compost, humus or peat 6 cm thick - in the fall, mulch is embedded in the soil, and a new one is poured on top.

Transplanting maiden grapes

Sometimes it becomes necessary to transplant the bush of the girl's grape to a more suitable place for it. The sooner this need arises, the easier it will be to transplant a bush, although there are cases of successful movement of bushes of five and even more mature age.

Prepare in advance a hole for a plant of approximately the same size as the root system of a bush, together with an earthen lump, but deeper. At the bottom of the pit, pour a layer of drainage (broken brick, crushed stone or crushed ceramic tiles) about 15 cm thick, pour a twenty centimeter layer of sand on top, and then fill the pit to the middle with a mixture of leaf earth, humus and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 1. Two weeks later, when the soil in the pit has settled and compacted, cut the lashes of the girl's grapes so that it is convenient for you to transplant it, dig out the bush, transfer it to a piece of thick cloth or oilcloth and drag it to the new pit. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to preserve all the roots of the maiden grape - it will recover very quickly if the new place suits it. How to plant girlish grapes? Dip an earthen ball with roots into the hole and cover the remaining space with the same soil mixture. The root collar of the bush should remain at ground level. After transplanting, water the bush, add more soil if necessary and compact the surface. If you have doubts about whether the bush will take root, add a little root former - Epin or Kornevin to the hole before planting.

Pruning maiden grapes

The first two to three years after sowing or planting, girlish grapes are unattractive, but when the active growth of shoots begins, it is very important to form the skeleton of the plant in such a way that the lashes grow in the right direction and at the right distance from each other, forming a certain shape and reasonable density. Form the crown of the bush with a garden pruner. Do not delay the beginning of the pruning, do not allow the lignification of the shoots and, while they are still green, direct them in the direction you want and fix them on the support. Remove excess shoots by cutting over a healthy bud.

When the skeletal branches are formed, you will only have to carry out a sanitary cleaning of the bush in the spring and limit the growth of shoots, not allowing them to grow, otherwise the girlish grapes will turn into lush sloppy thickets. It is especially important to keep the maiden grape hedge in good shape.

Pests and diseases of maiden grapes

Neither disease nor pests of interest in maiden grapes show, but with improper care, the plant can rot, which will tell you about it. appearance leaves. Remove diseased leaves and shoots, stop watering the grapes, and treat the plant with a fungicide solution.

If any pest settles on the girl's grapes, feel free to resort to treating the plant with an insecticide.

Reproduction of maiden grapes

Propagation of girlish grapes by cuttings

You already know how to grow girlish grapes from seeds, but the simplest and most affordable way to propagate a plant is by cuttings. How to propagate girlish grapes by cuttings? After cutting the plant, there are segments of lashes and shoots that can be used as cuttings. Lignified cuttings as thick as a pencil, on which there are 3-5 healthy buds, take root more easily.

Cutting, like sowing maiden grapes, can be carried out during the entire growing season. Take a suitable branch and cut from it cuttings 25-30 cm long with the required number of buds. Dig holes 7-10 cm deep in the prepared area at a distance of 1.5-2 m from each other, place the cuttings of the maiden grapes so that there are at least two buds underground, fill the holes, compact the surface and water the planting. In the hot summer, the seedlings of maiden grapes need to be watered regularly until they begin to actively grow. And do not forget to protect them from direct sunlight at first.

Propagation of girlish grapes by layering

Spread the lash of maiden grapes on the ground, attach it to the ground with hairpins or hooks and sprinkle with fertile soil in places where there are buds on the lash. Water the cuttings, and after a while, roots will begin to grow from the buds. If the lash is short, it is completely laid in the dug groove, leaving only the top on the surface, which must be raised to a height of 15-20 cm.The lash laid in the furrow is covered with earth and watered regularly, and when it takes root and shoots, the lash is separated from the mother bush ...

Propagation of girlish grapes by root suckers

This is also a convenient way of breeding girlish grapes: root suckers are dug out of the soil and planted in a new place, where the seedlings grow for a year or two. The root collar during transplantation should be at the same level as it was. When the seedlings get stronger, they are transplanted to permanent place.

Girlish grapes in winter

Girlish grapes overwinter in frosty air: it is cold-resistant and is able to withstand severe cold snaps. If you fear that the winter will be too cold for the plant, put fresh mulch under the bush, and spruce branches on top of it, remove the lashes from the support, lay them on a bed of spruce branches and throw spruce branches on top. This cover will be enough. However, make sure that the grapes do not dry out in winter.

As you can see, planting and caring for girlish grapes is so simple that even a novice gardener can do it.

or virgin grapes Most often, a girl's five-leaf grape is grown in culture. This fast-growing shade-tolerant species comes from the east of North America, where it is found in moist forests and scrub thickets on rich moist soils. This is a large liana, the lashes of which can reach a length of 20 m. Young shoots of the plant are reddish, but they turn green with age. Antennae with 3-8 ramifications end in thickenings. The leaves of this species are complex, palmate, consisting of oblong or ovate petiolate leaves up to 10 cm long with a pointed apex. The color of the upper side of the leaves is dark green, the lower side of the leaves is lighter, with a bluish tint. Umbellate apical inflorescences consist of 3-6 flowers. Fruits - blue-black berries with a bluish bloom.

This species is durable, easily reproduces in different ways, tolerates urban conditions well, and is not damaged by fungi and insects. It is so winter-hardy that it hibernates in the middle lane without shelter. However, five-leaf maiden grapes in Siberia still require warming for the winter. In culture, the species has been since 1622. The most valuable decorative forms of five-leaf grapes are:

• Engelman- small-leaved form of the main type;
• wall- antennae of this variety have numerous ramifications with thickened suction cups, which allow the whips to climb a smooth sheer surface;
• hairy- less winter-hardy, but more attractive form with shoots and leaves painted in reddish shades, the underside of which is pubescent;
• Saint-Paul- a plant with shoots pubescent at a young age and elongated inflorescences, the antennae of which have up to 12 branches;
• Star Showers- this variety has marble-colored foliage: in the warm season - green with white spots, and in autumn the spots turn pink, and the leaves turn red.

Tri-pointed maiden grape (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)

or ivy originally from Japan, China, the Korean Peninsula and the extreme southwest of Primorye. It is a vine with branched tendrils and a large number of suckers. Diverse in shape, smooth, as if varnished, leaves up to 20 cm in diameter on one plant can be triangular, and three-lobed, and rounded, and lobed, and heart-shaped. In the spring, the leaves are bright purple, in the fall they acquire a golden yellow, bronze or bright red hue. Small, unattractive flowers form oblong clusters of inflorescences. The fruits of this species are the same bluish-black with a bluish bloom, as in the five-leafed maiden grapes.

Sometimes, walking through the city, you can see buildings completely entwined with luxurious vines of maiden grapes. The dense green foliage that adorns the facades of houses in summer, with the arrival of autumn, changes its color to bright red, thereby becoming even more beautiful. Even an inexperienced gardener can get this unpretentious plant on his site, since it takes root well in any conditions and does not require careful care. In this article, we will tell you about planting and caring for maiden grapes.

Culture basics

The maiden grape is a perennial plant of the grape family that mainly performs an ornamental function. Culture has about 10 different types and is widespread in North America and East Asia. Maiden grapes have special tendrils that are able to cling to rough surfaces and various supports - in this way, vines grow upward and cover vertical planes. The leaves of the culture are palmate, placed on long petioles. The grape has corymbose inflorescences and bears fruit with small dark blue berries that are not edible.

This ornamental plant does not produce magnificent buds, and its fruits are unsightly and completely inedible. Meanwhile, the main decoration of the maiden grape is its luxurious foliage. Lianas plants, growing rapidly, are able to cover large areas - this feature is often used in order to disguise ugly places on a personal plot. An unplastered building wall, an old shed or any other unsightly structure will look much neater under an almost impenetrable dense carpet of greenery.

With the help of girlish grapes, you can create good shade in the gazebo, decorate the fence, protect the veranda, balcony or attic from wind and rain. The plant retains its decorative functions until winter. The red-colored leaves dilute the grayness of the surrounding autumn landscape and thus cheer up.

This culture is growing very quickly, which can be considered both a plus and a minus. This property is good in that it helps to fill a large space with green foliage in a short time. At the same time, if you do not take care of the grapes and do not cut off excess shoots, it will cover everything that it can reach. In addition, before planting this crop, keep in mind that every spring you will have to clear the area from a large number of fallen leaves.

Girlish grapes, in addition to their decorative function, have other useful properties... It improves the surrounding microclimate by inhibiting the development of certain pathogens. Braiding a building or a gazebo, the plant prevents dust, gases and noise from entering inside. In hot summers, a dense carpet of green foliage can protect the house from overheating.

Description of common varieties of maiden grapes

Among the known varieties of culture, there are two varieties that are most common among gardeners in our country. Each of these varieties is quite unpretentious, disease-resistant, takes root well in any soil and feels good both in the shade and in the sun. Below we will consider these varieties in more detail.

Five-leaf maiden grape

This type of culture is also called virgin grapes. It is capable of twisting vertical surfaces to a height of at least 15 m. In the summer season, the plant produces bright green foliage, which, with the arrival of autumn, turns into a deep red hue. The leaves of this culture are oblong, pointed, slightly resembling chestnut foliage. The leaves are located on long petioles.

Around the middle of summer, the plant produces small white inflorescences, from which small blue berries subsequently grow. The five-leaf grape is not capricious, grows well in shaded areas and perfectly transfers transplantation to a new place. The culture loves fertile soil, but it also feels comfortable enough on poor soils. Each year, grape shoots grow by about 2.5 m. As for pests, the five-leaf grapes are almost immune to their attacks. Slugs may occasionally appear on the foliage of the plant.

Tri-pointed maiden grapes

This plant variety has a second name - ivy grapes. This culture is widespread in China, Japan and Korea. The foliage of the plant resembles ivy foliage in shape, which is why the grape variety got its name. Refers to frost-resistant species, with the arrival of autumn, it changes green to various shades of red. In turn, the triangular grapes are divided into several subtypes. In the purple type, the foliage is colored maroon, the golden type grapes have green leaves with yellow spots, but the most popular is the girlish Vich grape. It has small leaves with a smooth glossy surface, which turn into a deep orange color with the arrival of autumn. In a good climate, this species can grow by 4 m per year.

Tri-pointed Vicha grapes are grown not only on vertical surfaces, but also on soil. Due to the fact that the plant has not too deep rhizomes, it is first planted in pots, and after a while it is transferred to open ground... This variety is not afraid of exhaust gases and smoke, thanks to which such a plant takes root well even close to highways.

Planting maiden grapes

A place to grow a crop

Before planting maiden grapes, you should decide on the place where it will grow. This culture, as mentioned earlier, is absolutely not capricious and feels great not only in the sun, but also in a shaded place. The only thing that is affected by the light level is the color of the leaves. If the vines twine around the southern side of the building and are well illuminated by the sun's rays, then by autumn the grapes will change their shade from green to red, orange, burgundy, etc. In the event that the culture is planted on the north side of buildings, foliage can remain green until it flies around in winter. It should be added that in lighted areas the grapes develop faster, the vines grow well, and the foliage turns out to be larger.

Planting time of maiden grapes and the composition of the soil for the plant

This culture will perfectly take root in a new place, regardless of whether it is planted in spring or autumn. However, experienced gardeners advise planting in the first half of autumn - in September or October.

As for the soil, this plant is just as undemanding to its composition as to everything else. The grapes feel comfortable in any cultivated soil. The planting process consists of several simple steps:

1. 7-8 days before planting the seedlings, the soil must be dug up and all weeds removed.
2. At the landing site, you need to dig a hole about 50 cm deep and lay drainage on the bottom. It can be made from fragments of bricks, small stones, pebbles, etc.
3. Pour about 20 cm of sand on top of the drainage layer.
4. The next step is to prepare the soil mixture. To do this, 2 parts of garden soil are mixed with 2 parts of compost and 1 part of sand.
5. The pit is filled with the resulting composition and a grape seedling is driven in.

Features of germination of seedlings of culture

In order for the plant to develop faster, it must be fertilized. Top dressing is customary to carry out several times a season, the first time the plant is fertilized in the spring. For this, 1 m³ is mixed with 50 g of nitroammophoska.

When the culture begins to grow actively, 100-200 g of "Kemira Universal" fertilizer is applied to the soil. With the arrival of autumn, the soil is additionally saturated with top dressing of a potassium composition; ordinary wood ash or potassium magnesium is suitable for this.

If you want the shoots to develop quickly, feed the grapes with "Aquamarine" at the rate of 50 g of substance per 1 m² of soil. Do not forget at least occasionally to loosen the soil around the stems and remove weeds.

Reproduction of maiden grapes

Propagation by cuttings

One of the methods of propagation of this culture is cuttings. To do this, take a stalk and divide it into several fragments. Each such part must have at least 4-5 buds, from which a new sprout will subsequently develop. When planting a cutting in the soil, do it so that 2 buds remain above the ground, and the rest of the buds are dug into the ground. When the planting process is over, water the sprouts and cover them with a light cloth to protect them from aggressive solar radiation. Moisten the soil near the sprouts periodically.

Reproduction of culture by layering

Reproduction by layering is considered one of the easiest ways. This is done very simply. With the onset of spring, branches are selected on the grapes, the age of which is at least 2-3 years. Then these branches are bent to the ground and fixed, for example, using a sufficiently strong and thick steel wire. Places of attachment of vines to the ground are sprinkled with soil and periodically watered. A year later, at the beginning of spring, the branch is cut off from the mother plant, the roots of the grapes are carefully dug up and transferred to a new place.

Planting maiden grape seeds

Due to the laboriousness, the method of seed reproduction is considered not the most popular. Few are engaged in it, since the whole procedure takes quite a lot of time, moreover, the grapes germinate slowly.

It is customary to sow the seeds of maiden grapes in the spring or autumn. If you plan to carry out the procedure in the spring, then before sowing the seeds need to be stratified. This is done about 1.5 months before the expected landing date. To make stratification, take a suitable container and fill it with sand. Then the sand is moistened and grains are planted in it. The seed container is placed in a cool place such as a refrigerator. The refrigerator temperature must be kept constant at + 5 ° C. After stratification and spring planting, the grapes give the first shoots in a month, and if you plant the seeds in the fall, the sprouts will not appear until next summer. Crop seeds can be stored at room temperature for about 1 year.

Girlish grapes: care features

Caring for this plant is not difficult. First of all, having chosen a place for planting a crop, equip a good support for the vines. Since the grapes grow fast enough, an unreliable support may not support the weight of the plant and simply collapse.

So that the vines have something to cling to in the process of growth, you can fix a trellis or a chain-link on the wall of the building. While the plant is quite young, its shoots should be directed in the right direction. After a few years, you will be able to correct the bush by cutting off excess branches.

Maiden grapes reproduce well by self-sowing. If you do not need new shoots on the site, try to remove fruit bunches from the plant whenever possible. Of course, grape berries can serve as a kind of decoration, but after wilting, they do not look very attractive.

Watering girlish grapes is necessary only at a young age. Adult crops thrive without additional hydration. As a rule, maiden grapes are not susceptible to diseases, pests and fungal infections.

With the arrival of autumn, if there are fruits on the grapes, and you want to use them for propagation, collect the berries for storage. After frost, most of the leaves fall off - they must be removed immediately, otherwise the soil under the plant will be too damp.

Adult crops do not require any insulation for the winter period, but it is better to protect young shoots from frost and cover with plastic wrap. In a snowy winter, ordinary snow can be used for insulation.

When growing girlish grapes, you need to consider some subtleties:

1. Maiden grapes very intensively build up green mass, and therefore, its weight is constantly increasing. Unreliable supports and flimsy structures may not support the weight of the plant. That is why it is not recommended to plant a culture near plastered walls. If, in addition, there is a heat-insulating layer under the plaster, then after a few years the coating may simply fall off under the weight of the grapes. It is best to decorate brick, concrete or wood surfaces with this plant.
2. It is not recommended to allow the growth of girlish grapes on tiled roofs. Insufficiently reliable masonry can be damaged.
3. The same goes for roofs covered with slate. If the structure has even a slight slope, then the slate sheets under the mass of the plant can slide down. However, such a danger does not threaten flat roofs.
4. When growing girlish grapes near the walls of a residential building, it is important to take into account the moment that vines are able to block ventilation openings, braid antennas, satellite dishes and gutters. To avoid problems, direct the growth of branches in the right direction and simply remove unnecessary branches.
5. Maiden grapes cling to rough surfaces with special tendrils that can grow deep into the coating. For wooden walls, this is not at all scary, but for plaster it is destructive.

Girlish grapes in the design of the site

Very often, this culture is used to mask unsightly areas of the garden. Growing up in a short time, maiden grapes in just a few years are able to close an old shed, a farm building, a peeling wall of a house. But not only nondescript places on the site are decorated with this plant, grapes are often used to decorate pergolas, gazebos, verandas, and building facades. As for the gazebos and verandas, in this case the grapes serve not only as a beautiful design element, but also create the necessary shade. Attic braided with green vines - the best place where you can hide from the heat of a summer day.

If a translucent fence is installed in your garden, and you want to hide from prying eyes, then girlish grapes will help create an almost impenetrable barrier through which nothing will be visible.

This culture can be used not only for decorating vertical surfaces, but also for growing on slopes. In such a case, maiden grapes grow on the ground in a dense green carpet.

This plant is very popular in southern-style gardens. The fact is that not all liana plants can exist normally in our climate, and maiden grapes perfectly tolerate cold and frost. Therefore, this culture helps to create a southern design in a northern climate.

Sometimes girlish grapes are combined with other types of climbing plants. This culture looks very harmonious with ivy. A particularly beautiful effect is achieved in autumn, when the grapes take on a red hue, and the ivy is still green. The composition of maiden grapes and climbing rose looks no less impressive. The rose uses the vine as its own support and the two crops grow upward together. A great effect can be achieved by planting maiden grapes next to mountain clematis. White, lilac or pale pink buds in combination with carved green leaves look just great.

How to arrange grapes properly

Having planted the culture near the support, watch where the young branches are heading. If the shoots are growing in the wrong direction, redirect them and fix them on a support. But if even after that, the vines are directed their growth in the wrong direction, just cut them off.

Adult plants do not need to be tied to a support, but preventive pruning of shoots should be carried out at regular intervals. In the process of such pruning, weak or damaged branches are removed from the plant. It is important to remember to cut the lash just above the healthy kidney.

If you have not looked after the plant for a long time, and the branches have become too long, you must first shorten them to required length, and then remove the woven, weak and thickened shoots.

Vertical gardening looks very unusual on the site. The best fit for maiden grapes, planting and caring for which is not difficult at all. Growing this liana at home allows you to hide unsightly places, turn the mesh fence into a blank wall, and the pergola into an oriental tent.

Fast-growing vines of attached and five-leafed maiden grapes are capable of reaching 25-32 m, of the Far Eastern tri-pointed one - 16-19 m. The annual growth rate is up to 3 m. Reddish shoots at the beginning of the growing season subsequently acquire a green color in summer and crimson in autumn. Climbs on a vertical smooth surface, clinging to a mustache with or without sticky pads.

Flowering occurs in early summer in small greenish inflorescences. The fruit is a dark blue berry, very decorative in early autumn. They are not suitable for food, but the birds eat them with pleasure. As a garden plant, it is widely used in landscape design all over the world.

Cultivated maiden grape varieties

The most widespread are the following varieties:

• Engelmannii. Broad-lanceolate leaves are up to 13 cm long, dark green in summer and reddish-purple in autumn.
• Murorum. The variety most densely and evenly covers the surface to be decorated.
• Troki. The form is distinguished by glossy large leaves.

Maiden grapes are grown not only vertically, but also as a ground cover plant.

Planting and caring for girlish grapes

Maiden grapes do not need very fertile soil, but depleted soil is also not suitable. Grows well on slightly saline soil. Feels equally good both in sunny areas and in the shade. In the latter case, the color of the foliage will remain green until the very cold, but in the sun it will turn yellow or burgundy.

Prices for maiden grapes

maiden grapes

Landing

Liana can be planted in spring, summer, and autumn. Since the plant has a huge ground mass and is planted for a long time, it is advisable to make drainage. Broken brick, gravel, etc. are suitable for him.

Planting holes are made 0.5 m deep at a distance of 70-80 cm. From the foundation of the structure 1 m. You can also plant in trenches. When planting, the root collar must not be buried. 15 cm of sand is poured onto the drainage layer, then the soil of the following composition:

• compost -2 buckets;
• garden land - 2 buckets;
• sand - 1 bucket;
• ash - 1 tbsp.

Instead of compost, you can take 1 bucket of humus. Watering during planting should be carried out with 1-2 buckets of water.

Care

Care consists in removing weeds, loosening, watering and feeding. Young grapes are watered depending on weather conditions: if there is no rain, then every 7 days. For an adult plant, watering is not needed. They are fed with a complex mineral fertilizer in the spring and at the end of July (Nitrofoskoy, Azofoskoy, etc.) at 40-50 g per running meter.

Young plants need to be tied up while the antennae have not yet gained the necessary strength.

In addition, vines require pruning:

• sanitary. Broken, diseased, dry shoots are removed;
• formative. In principle, it consists only in limiting violent growth and removing shoots heading in undesirable directions.

Full-scale pruning is best done in the spring when all live and dead shoots are visible.

Important! It is important to keep an eye on the whips that are on the ground as they can take root and give a lot of new growth.

After pruning, the growth of vines increases, so it can be carried out throughout the summer.

Foliage falls off in large quantities after frost, it can be used for composting. When exposing the roots, you need to add soil and slightly huddle.

In Siberia, young lianas are removed from supports for the winter and covered with spruce branches; for adults, shelter is not required.

Propagation of grapes

The plant can be propagated by seeds, cuttings and root layers.

Seeds

Before planting, seeds are stratified in wet sand at a temperature of +6 degrees for 1-1.5 months (before pecking).

Important! At this time, it is imperative not to allow the sand to dry out.

Once the seeds have hatched, they can be planted in open ground for germination and rooting. You can also plant them for seedlings in a greenhouse or apartment. To do this, take the same soil composition as described above. They are planted in a permanent place after the threat of recurrent frosts.

Cuttings

In the spring, cuttings are cut so that they have 4-5 buds, they are buried in the soil into two buds, well moistened and protected from direct sunlight. Until the cuttings are rooted, regular spraying should be carried out and soil moisture should be monitored. Saplings are planted in a permanent place in the fall.

Layers

In the spring, a 2-3-year-old liana is removed from the support, placed in a groove and sprinkled with fertile soil.

Can be pinned to the ground with wire ties. In this case, the top of the whip should be fixed vertically. Moisturize periodically during the summer and by the end of the summer it will give roots. All that remains is to cut it and plant it in a permanent place.

Important! It is even easier to propagate the plant by separating the root shoots or daughter plants.

The active growth of the ground part begins in the third year, and until that time the plant will grow the root system, which goes into the ground to a depth of 1 m.

Positive and negative aspects of growing maiden grapes

Liana gained popularity due to the fact that:

• decorative;
• resistant to pests and diseases;
• unpretentious;
• breeds easily;

In addition, when used as a green fence, it protects against wind, dust and exhaust fumes from outside. Can also be grown on a balcony in a tub. If you want to restrain the growth of the lashes, you need to stop watering and feeding. In this case, the cover becomes thicker than less often.

V folk medicine used against cancer tumors and bleeding different etiology in the form of a tincture from branches. To do this, 10 g of dried raw materials are poured into 1.5 tbsp. boiling water, keep in a water bath for 6-7 minutes and cool at room temperature. Then filter and take 3 times 0.5 tbsp. with bleeding.

The negative aspects include the following:

• clogging of the drain;
• trudging along the walls, overgrows windows and destroys tiled roofs;
• creates moisture in the walls;
• berries can be poisoned.

But timely pruning allows all this to be avoided, and on the contrary, it dries the walls, absorbing moisture.

Maiden grapes in ground cover culture

Lianas are very good for the garden as a thick dense carpet, since it is not afraid of both shady lowlands and open rocky areas with poor soils.

To create a horizontal cover, maiden grapes are planted at intervals of 100 cm. To speed up the process, it is better to place the planting material more often (up to 50 cm). At the same time, practically no maintenance is required:

• Fall foliage will be used as fertilizer.
• No shelter is needed for the winter.
• There is enough moisture under dense foliage.
• Weeds do not grow.
• Loosening is not required.

This culture is simply irreplaceable for landscaping a large area.

The use of grapes in landscape design

In the design of the site, maiden grapes are used to create hedges, all kinds of arches, picturesque patio walls, green arbors, and more.

DIY hedge

Table 1. Types of hedges by size.

As a basis for the fence, you can use a tree, a plastic mesh or a chain-link, and stretch trellises.

The wooden support consists of lattice sections and posts.

1. First, using ropes and pegs, you need to outline the places for the posts and the length of the fence in order to calculate the amount of material.
2. The pillars are treated with an antiseptic and dug into the ground 60-70 cm into the pits prepared in advance. The lower part can be wrapped with roofing felt. With a fence height of 2 m, the supports are placed every 1.5 m.
3. The installation is completed by filling the holes with crushed stone, followed by concreting.
4. After the concrete has hardened, lattice spans with a large mesh are mounted on self-tapping screws.
5. When the fence is installed, the girlish grapes are planted according to the scheme described above.

Video - how to make a skeleton for a grape fence

Plastic mesh is affordable, lightweight, corrosion resistant and easy to install. For the manufacture of a fence or pergola, supports will be required, which, with a fence height of 2 m, are installed at a distance of 1.5 m. Pipes or bars can serve as supports. They are deepened by 0.5 m and concreted.

Then, after the solution has solidified (two days later), the mesh is fastened with plastic clamps or hooked onto hooks (pre-welded to the pipes).

Advice! It is advisable to throw a wire along the top and bottom to strengthen the stiffeners.

In a similar way, they make the basis for the fence from the chain-link.

Alcove

The decoration of the site is a gazebo entwined with lianas, where you can relax with a book, drink tea or have dinner.

The gazebo needs a solid frame. It can be made of wood, metal welded or forged; square, rectangular, polygonal, or round. To make a structure with your own hands, you need to follow these steps:

1. First you need to outline the site.
2. Pave the inner area.
3. In the corners, vertical supports should be installed and concreted.
4. Tie them with a bar or a metal profile at the bottom and top.

Arbor entwined with grapes

You can shape correctly, or you can simply limit growth and make sanitary pruning.

Video - a gazebo made of maiden grapes

Decorative wall

For maiden grapes, it is more convenient to use a two-plane structure in the form of the letter V. In this form of support, the load is distributed more evenly.

The installation process is similar to installing a frame for a gazebo, only pipes or bars are concreted at an angle. Then either wire or mesh is applied.

These walls can be used to enclose a patio, barbecue or pool area.

Growing girlish grapes on the balcony

For growing on a balcony or loggia, the east, south or west side of the building is better suited. The cuttings are first planted in small containers with further transshipment into large containers or open ground (for residents of the first floors).

The seedling pot must have drainage holes. If they are absent, then you can use expanded clay, pouring it in a layer of 8-10 cm. Then a layer of humus and, finally, garden soil. A permanent container for growing should have a volume of 100 liters and a height of 0.4 m. In the first year, maiden grapes on the balcony will give single shoots, but they will immediately need support. Any wood or metal grate will work. You can also use plywood with hammered nails.

Important! In the second or third year, the mustache with suction cups will get stronger and will be able to independently cling to any surface.

In the first winter, the plants are brought into the heat, shortening the shoots by a third. You will not need to do this in the future. It will be enough to insulate the roots. In the spring, the tub is taken out and the usual care is carried out.

For one plant in a balcony culture, 3-4 sq. m. vertical area. Therefore, two seedlings will be enough to green the entire wall.

Video - decorative grapes at home

On a sultry summer afternoon, a cozy gazebo, which is completely covered with green leaves of girlish grapes, becomes a real salvation! Lush greenery gives a refreshing coolness, and even if it does not look as impressive as climbing roses, it requires almost no maintenance.

What is a maiden five-leaf grape

On a sultry summer afternoon, a cozy gazebo, which is completely covered with green foliage girlish grapes, becomes a real salvation! Lush greenery gives a refreshing coolness, and even if it does not look as impressive as it is, it requires almost no maintenance.

In the photo, landscaping with girlish grapes

Of ten species of vines of the genus Parthenocissus(parthenocissus), growing in East Asia and North America, only three are used for decorative purposes: ivy-shaped grapes (triangular), attached, and also virgin or five-leafed. The latter species is best suited for growing in Russian conditions, since the plant, even without shelter, is able to tolerate frosty winters well.

Why are decorative grapes called maiden? There is a simple explanation for this: the flowers of a plant do not need pollen fertilization to form seeds. It is because of this "immaculate conception" that the liana was named "virgin ivy" (in Greek: partenos kisses).

Video about beautiful girlish grapes

Since the 17th century, public parks and private estates have been decorated with virgin grapes. Gazebos, arches, terraces and balconies twined with green ivy look very picturesque! The popular liana is often used to decorate the walls of houses, outbuildings, pillars, and is also grown as a quality.

Climbing shoots of parthenocissus can reach 15-20 m, climbing up the support or gracefully drooping down. In the summer months, the vines are densely covered with dark green, five-part leaves, by the fall, the foliage acquires a bright purple color, and clusters of small bluish-black berries (inedible) stand out beautifully against its background.

Opinions experienced gardeners relatively virgin grapes often diverge. Some believe that there is no better way to hide the unsightly facade of the house or disguise the old barn, while others are sure that the lush green ivy will definitely lead to the destruction of the foundation and the buildings themselves. Why do they love this green liana, and what shortcomings should you know in advance?

Photo of a five-leaf grape

Five-leaf grapes have many advantages:

• It looks attractive from early summer to mid-autumn;
• grows abundantly along the support, providing a dense green curtain;
• not afraid of Russian frosts;
• can grow on any soil;
• content with even tiny patches of land;
• successfully develops both in sunny areas and in the shade;
• practically not susceptible to diseases and pests;
• very quickly gaining growth (2-3 m per year);
• fertilizer is enough to apply only when planting;
• its reproduction does not cause difficulties;
• dense foliage protects the walls of the house from overheating, dust, wind and rain, reduces dampness inside the building and near the foundation.

In the photo girlish grapes

However, despite all these advantages, some gardeners are wary of American grapes. The fact is that ivy growing near the house can launch its strong shoots under the slate or shingles on the roof, causing them to collapse, or it can penetrate into the gutter and clog it. Growing up, lush vines completely cover the windows, creating darkness in the house. But all this mess can be dealt with if you closely monitor the lush plant and prune excess shoots in a timely manner.

The more serious problem is the long and aggressive roots of the parthenocissus. Capturing space underground, the roots can spread up to several meters, causing great harm to the rest of the "inhabitants" of the garden. Even weeds under ornamental grapes grow with difficulty, and cultivated plants cannot take root at all.

You also need to take into account that the parthenocissus in the spring begins to come to life much later than the rest of the plants, and for a long time it presents a dull picture of naked confused shoots, while everything in the garden turns green and blooms.

If the disadvantages of parthenocissus do not scare you, try to grow it on your site, especially since it is very easy to do it. According to gardeners, who already have maiden grapes growing on the site, planting it looks simple: just stick a stalk into the ground and water it, and then the plant will develop on its own, just have time to cut off the extra lashes.

For those who like to do everything in detail, we will tell you in order how to grow girlish grapes:

• dig a hole of the right size in a suitable place under the handle;
• mix the soil from the pit with compost and sand, add two handfuls of fertilizers;
• lay a drainage layer (broken brick, crushed stone or coarse sand) on the bottom of the hole;
• pour part of the soil mixture on top;
• place the cutting in the hole at a slight slope;
• cover the seedling with the remaining soil mixture;
• form an irrigation hole so that precipitation is retained in it;
• water the grapes well;
• for a small plant, you can make a support or tie up a wire to make it easier for ivy to climb up.

To decorate the facade of the house, it is not necessary to build a support: the parthenocissus can cling to the slightest roughness on smooth walls with the help of suction cups at the ends of the antennae.

Ivy will turn out to be especially beautiful, planted in fertile, moisture-permeable soil in a lighted place on the south side of the house. Planted on the north side, Virginian grapes do not turn into wonderful crimson-red tones in the autumn months and do not form picturesque bunches of berries. However, dark green foliage in the fall also looks attractive.

Photo of maiden grapes

How to care for a girl's grape after planting?

Due to the amazing unpretentiousness of the parthenocissus, all caring for it can be reduced to rare watering in a drought and to trimming unnecessary lashes. But if you want to see a lush, well-groomed handsome man on your site, create more comfortable conditions for ivy to grow.

Watering decorative grapes it requires a moderate one: during the season it will be enough to water it 3-4 times, using about 10 liters of water for each plant. In hot weather, water should be done more often (make sure that the soil does not dry out completely). At the beginning of summer, along with watering, it is recommended to fertilize the vine with nitroammophos, and during active growth, apply complex fertilizer.

During the summer, you need to periodically remove weeds, loosen the soil and add it in case of exposure of the roots. A beneficial effect will be given by mulching the trunk circle with peat, compost or humus with a layer of about 6 cm. In the fall, mulch is embedded in the soil and a new one is immediately poured.

Video about girlish grapes

In the spring virgin grapes during the dormant period, the frozen ends of the branches are cut off, dried, weakened, damaged shoots and those that have grown outside the territory allotted for ivy are removed.

Ivy propagation cuttings can be cut at any time by choosing branches with 4-5 healthy buds. Propagated five-leaf grapes and seeds, if the fruits have time to fully ripen in the Russian climate, but this method is more troublesome than rooting cuttings. It is even easier to propagate the liana with whip layers, dropping it horizontally into the soil so that the top with the buds remains above the ground.

The maiden grape is an ornamental growing species of the genus Parthenocissus. It grows in the form of vines, twisting around gazebos, fences, trees and other structures. It received such an unusual name due to its peculiarity: for the formation of seeds, it does not need fertilization with pollen, a kind of "immaculate conception". It is also called "virgin ivy".

General information

Its shoots can spread to distances of up to 20 m.Therefore, it is worthwhile to carefully monitor that the violently growing shoots do not close the windows (creating darkness in the rooms), do not rise too high, climbing under the tiles or slate, thereby, destroying them, and not allow vines to enter the gutter, clogging it.

To do this, it is worth cutting off excess shoots in time. It should also be borne in mind that grapes have very dense roots, so do not plant other crops near it, it will be difficult for them to break through these shoots. It should also be noted that after winter, while everything around begins to turn green, the "girlish" grapes are in no hurry to revive.

Maiden grapes bloom in summer (July), but very modestly. But the flowers are fragrant and attract bees and bumblebees.

Varieties and types

Ivy maiden grape (tri-pointed) has decorative garden varieties that are in demand due to their unusual configuration of leaves and color (not only in autumn). For example, the purple ivy grape has dark purple leaves, while the golden variety has dark purple leaves. yellow spots on green leaves.

- the most common variety, has small smooth leaves with three pointed ends. In autumn they acquire an orange-red color.

Or five-leaf has dark green leaves, consisting of 5 leaves, an egg of a similar shape with pointed ends, in the summer, and in the fall it acquires a reddish or burgundy tint. There are also small clusters of small, dark, inedible berries.

This species tolerates severe frosts well even without special shelter. Not whimsical to the choice of soil and location (sunny or shady). It grows very quickly (up to 3 m per year). Dense foliage protects the walls of the house from overheating, dust, wind and rain, thereby reducing dampness inside the house and near the foundation.

Girlish grapes "STAR SHOWERS" or variegated - a very decorative variety, has an unusual green-white color of the leaves, which changes from prolonged cold weather.

("Yellow Wall" ) - in the fall, the leaves from green acquire a yellow tint.

Variety of maiden grapes "Red Wall (Troki)" - has a glossy leaf surface, in autumn they turn purple-red.

Girlish grapes "Henry" , it does not tolerate frost, so it can be grown in an apartment. Its young shoots have a tetrahedral cross-section, and the leaves consist of 5-7 individual leaves.

Girlish grapes planting and care

The grapes do not require a specific planting site, but the lighting can affect the color of the foliage. If you plant it on the south side, then in the fall the foliage will acquire a bright and attractive crimson palette, and on the north side the foliage will remain green and without bunches of berries.

In lighted areas, the plant grows faster and has larger foliage. Liana takes root in spring and autumn, but experts advise choosing autumn (September-October).

Soil for maiden grapes

To begin with, a week before planting, the earth at the planting site must be dug up. Then a hole is dug 50-60 cm deep and drainage is laid on the bottom (for example, broken brick) and covered with a layer of sand (20 cm).

Then the substrate is prepared: two parts of leafy soil, two parts of compost and part of sand.

Watering the maiden grapes

Watering ornamental grapes requires moderate watering. It will be quite enough three to four times a season, while using at least 10 liters of water per bush.

If the summer is very hot, then the number of irrigations is increased, the main thing is that the earth does not dry out.

Fertilizers of maiden grapes

Fertilizers can be applied at the beginning of summer (together with water for irrigation they are fed with nitroammophos), and during active growth, complex fertilizers can be applied.

It is periodically necessary to remove weeds, loosen the soil and mulch the area around the ivy. Mulching is carried out at the beginning of summer using peat, humus or compost (6 cm layer). In the fall, the layer is renewed, embedding the old one in the ground.

Pruning maiden grapes

Pruning is carried out in the spring (during the dormant period), frozen, dried, weakened or damaged shoots and leaves are removed, and branches that have gone beyond the zone allocated by you are shortened (they close the windows, climb under the roof, etc.).

Girlish grapes preparing for winter

Most types of maiden grapes do not need shelter for the winter, they are quite frost-resistant, even if some of them freeze, they will quickly recover, thanks to dormant buds.

Propagation of girlish grapes by cuttings

We prepare the place: dig a hole of the desired size under the cutting, away from the rest of the plants, due to the growth of the root system. Mix the soil from this pit with compost, sand and fertilizer (two handfuls).

Then lay the drainage on the bottom, add a little of the resulting substrate on top, place the cutting at a slight angle and cover with the remaining earth. Now you need to water the grapes well and form a hole so that precipitation (rainwater) lingers in it.

For a young plant, it is necessary to form a support so that it is easier for it to grow upwards, then it can be removed. If the grapes grow near the house, then support is not needed, it will crawl along the wall, clinging to a rough surface. Cuttings are cut at any time of the year, choosing shoots with at least five healthy buds.

Maiden grapes propagation by layering

For this method, a long lash is taken, which is planted in a wave-like manner (part in the ground is different above the ground, the next again in the ground, and so on) into a groove no more than 5 cm deep. The part in the ground must be secured with a hairpin or paper clip. Then water well.

There is another way: a shorter layering is selected and a whip is laid out in the same shallow moistened groove, the top rises 10-15 cm above the ground (if it does not hold itself, then put a support).

Growing maiden grapes from seeds

Seeds propagate grapes in spring or autumn, planting in loose soil no deeper than 1 cm. To increase the germination rate, the seeds are pre-soaked.

When planted in the spring, the seeds are soaked in cold water (3-5 hours), thereby hardening them, then placed in moist soil and refrigerated for several days.

Reproduction by root suckers

The root system formed by the shoots of vines is very ramified. Root offspring are easily separated and planted in a new place. The main thing is that the root collar should be above the ground, and not covered up.

Diseases and pests

This ornamental plant rarely gets sick and only because of violations of the rules of care: abundant watering or, on the contrary, drying out of the soil, as well as a lack of fertilizers. Sometimes pests also look at grapes, insecticides will help in the fight against them.

Girlish grapes benefit or harm

There are many different opinions about this decorative grapes... Someone thinks that it is harmful: it clogs the drain, interferes with the growth of other plants, weaves along the wall overgrown with windows and makes its way onto the roofs and destroys the tiled and slate roofs. But all this can be avoided by cutting off unnecessary ends in a timely manner.

The benefits are actually much greater: with the help of vines, you can disguise old and unremarkable buildings and structures, create hedges instead of boring fences, and also decorate arches and gazebos. In addition, dense foliage is able to protect against wind and cold.

Most varieties can please with bright colors in autumn, attracting and pleasing to the eye. There is a myth that mold is formed under a dense ivy carpet from dampness. In fact, this is not the case, grapes absorb moisture.

Girlish grape tincture

In folk medicine, there is one recipe for an infusion of the branches of a girl's grape, which is used by cancer patients for resorption of tumors, as a hemostatic agent.

Preparation of infusion : take 10 g of chopped, dried branches, pour into a glass bowl, pour 300 ml of boiling water, then put in a water bath for 7-8 minutes. Set aside and let it brew and cool.

Now you can strain through a sieve or cheesecloth and add a little water (to restore the original volume). Take 100 ml during various bleeding 3-4 times a day.