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If you are a wine aficionado, having your own grape orchard would be a dream. Not only would you have ample resources to make your own wine, but you also get to choose what type of grapes you plant.
However, before you invest anything into this venture, you should make sure that you have done extensive research on all aspects to avoid common business pitfalls. It is best to find ways to optimize your business to maximize profits while maintaining quality. By having a set plan, and sticking to it you will be able to optimize every aspect of your grape orchard. Here are some proven ways to create a truly productive grape orchard:
Choose the Right Type of Grapes for Your Location
When it comes to growing grapes, the location is key. There are a wide variety of grapes, and they are very specific when it comes to the type of soil and climate to grow in. Some grapes grow well in hot climates, whereas some prefer more temperate ones.
So before you go and buy a whole cluster of grapevines, you should make sure that they are compatible with your orchard’s soil quality, temperature, and weather. You don’t want to waste thousands of dollars on grapes that won’t grow in your orchard’s soil.
Create A Sturdy Trellis System
If you want your grapevines to grow strong and well supported, it is imperative that you create a sturdy trellis system. Although wild grape vines are known to grow without the help of a trellis system. They are hardy survivors that reach out for any available space to grow. The job of a trellis is to guide these vines so that they are easier to manage and prune in the long run. Grapes can live up to 50 or even 100 years old, and the older they get, the heavier the vines will get. So it makes sense that you make your trellis system as sturdy as possible.
When it comes to setting up a trellis system, it always pays to think ahead. Remember that grapevines grow rapidly, and you don’t want them to overgrow your trellis system. So make it a priority to build an extensive trellis system all over your orchard. This will make sure that your vines have ample room to grow in the future.
Prune Your Grapes Properly
If you want your grapevines to grow properly and yield as many grapes as possible, it is important that you prune your grapes right. There is a certain art to pruning your grapevines. You can’t just cut and pull at your vines and say that it is pruning.
There needs to be a certain structure and efficiency to it. First and foremost, you should prune your grapevines in wintertime. That way you won’t have to deal with the leaves that sprout during the summertime. Don’t be afraid to heavily prune your grapevines, because it will help the vines produce more fruits. Make it a priority to cut off the old wood on the vine, because new wood helps in fruit production.
Patience is Key
Remember that grapes have a specific timeline for their growth. Depending on the type of grapes you choose, they can take from one to three years.
So if you are going to get into the grape production industry, you should never be in a rush. Wait for the grapes to fully grow, and keep them safe while they grow. Grapes are very fragile, and any damage the vines can stifle or even stop their growth.
Automate Your Harvesting Process
Once the grapes are ready for picking, it is important that you harvest them properly. Some orchards hire thousands of laborers to harvest the grapes. However, hiring laborers can be risky because some of them don’t really have any experience with picking grapes.
What’s more some of them might not be trustworthy, and, may even steal some of your precious harvests. For something as precious as your grape crops you should really think about automating the harvesting process. There have been major strides in robotics engineering in the past few decades.
There are now industrial robot arms that can pick fruits even faster and more efficiently than human laborers know more about it here. They don’t run the risk of breaking the grapes because they can be programmed to have an approximate grip strength that won’t damage the fruits.
Venture into the Winemaking Business
There is a truly great sense of satisfaction in harvesting grapes. They are not like other fruits that take only a few weeks or months to grow.
If you want to cultivate top-quality grapes, you will need to wait for years in order to enjoy them. You will also need to take extra care of the vines, and make sure that they are properly pruned and supported.
So once you do get the chance to harvest your grapes, it would be such a waste to just sell them outright. If you want to take full advantage of your labors, it is best to venture into the winemaking business.
You have an incredible opportunity to start your own winemaking business. Other winemakers would need to buy their grapes from very expensive providers. Luckily you already have an orchard that you can take advantage of. It can be somewhat scary to set up your very own winemaking business at first. However, there is a multitude of resources that you can learn online. You have a golden opportunity to make the most money from your grape harvests, so steel yourself and take a chance.
Conclusion
Starting your very own grape orchard can be a scary prospect for beginners. Grapes are somewhat difficult to cultivate, and you will need to invest some time and money into developing your grape orchard.
It will also take a great deal of patience because grapes do take some time to grow. Luckily, with these great tips, you’ll be able to get started the right way.
