Re: Problematic Pergola

I think you have answered your own question about the reasons why your grape vines haven't taken off...  Good rich soil or regular fertilizing and sufficient irrigation to encourage fast growth are the missing ingredients here.  I am willing to bet that you don't have the best soil to begin with, living in a newer subdivision where the soil was probably greatly compacted, clay to begin with, and the existing humus was totally lost during construction of the tract.  This cultivar of grape is naturally a creekside native, so wants regular water year round.  As it is not usually considered a good variety for eating off the vine, and any grape will have issues of fruit drop during the growing season, perhaps you should replace the vine with a more drought tolerant type that doesn't fruit, and has faster growth, and is more tolerant of compacted clay soils with the possibility of hardpan below.  Or you could install some deep-root watering tubes and add
 additional drip irrigation to get the water deeper and more consistent.  This won't eliminate fruit drop however.

I'd second the recommendation for Kiwi vines if you want fruit in late fall and shade all summer, but these are very fast growing vines, and need consistent regular pruning to keep them from becoming massive.  I would instead recommend something that is evergreen and flowering and loves your summer heat yet doesn't need as much water.  Pandorea jasminoides, Podranea ricasolina, Pyrostegia venusta, Distictis 'Rivers', Lonicera hildebrandiana are all good fast growing evergreen flowering vines that could be expected to fill in quickly and give you good shade, without the messy fruit drop.  Plumbago aruiculata or Distictis buccinatorius are also classic vines for covering a pergola and giving deep shade.

--- On Sat, 9/19/09, Ben Wiswall <benwiswall@pacbell.net> wrote:

> From: Ben Wiswall <benwiswall@pacbell.net>
> Subject: Problematic Pergola
> To: "medit plants forum" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
> Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009, 3:41 PM
> Hi All,I'm still
> fussing over a pergola that is not fulfilling its purpose,
> namely, to provide comfortable SHADY outdoor seating and
> dining in summer.
> I chose grapes as the vine to do the job,
> believing they were tough and fast, and had long historical
> precedent for growing on pergolas.So, my question
> is: does anyone have a pergola shrouded in grape vines?
>  Does it provide DENSE shade in summer for you?
>  Does it drop half-dried grapes/raisins on you while
> you are reposing in the shade?After four summers,
> should I give it one more season, or start over with a
> different vine, or lattice, or shade cloth?
> Following are some photos of the pergola taken
> in midsummer.  I increased irrigation
>  shortly afterwards,and the vines have responded by
> producing some late growth, but not too much.
> www.flickr.com/photos/27474976@N07/sets/72157622287967839/
> Thanks for any advice!-Ben
> Armentrout-WiswallSimi Valley, inland southern
> California
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