Re: Problematic Pergola

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What kind of grapes?

I know someone who has a Vitis 'Roger's Red' (half-native) grape on an arbor over a glider, and when I've visited, it looked like it did provide good shade. But it's not a good choice if you're looking for grapes to eat out of hand. These grapes have large seeds, and are best used for juice. I haven't grown one myself, but Roger's Red has a reputation for being fast and rampant here in northern Calif.

On the other hand, I know someone else with a vigorous grape vine (either green grapes or red grapes) that created good shade in a year or two and produces well, but often the ants get to the grapes first and eat them all!

If I had a pergola to cover, the vine I've been wanting to grow is hardy kiwi (the one that's not fuzzy), mostly for the fruit.

 

Tanya

sunset zone 17

At 3:41 PM -0700 9/19/09, Ben Wiswall wrote:

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.

Thanks for any advice!

-Ben Armentrout-Wiswall

Simi Valley, inland southern California