Maiden grapes - virgin ivy: cultivation, planting and care.

Maiden grape is a fast-growing and unpretentious vine, widely used as an element of landscape design in garden plots, in country and city estates. Carved foliage in vibrant shades of green, red and yellow can add a picturesque look to walls, houses and other structures.

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Advantages and disadvantages

When planning to plant girlish grapes, you should know not only about positive properties plant, but also about its shortcomings.

Advantages

The flexible stems of the vine allow, with a prepared frame, to create any decorative forms - from simple to the most bizarre.

Among other advantages of “wild” grapes:

decorative, attractive appearance throughout the summer and until late autumn;
protects buildings from heat, dust, rain and wind;
high survival rate, undemanding to soil and light;
practically not susceptible to diseases and pests;
durability - preserves decorative properties throughout the entire life span;
good frost resistance, the lashes usually do not freeze;
enhanced regeneration - new parts quickly grow in place of damaged parts;
resistance to lack of moisture - developed with poor watering root system provides the plant with moisture from the soil;
accelerated growth rates - grows up to 25 m in height, during the first 2-3 years it grows by several meters;
does not require much space on the site, but covers large areas.

Maiden grapes decorative design plot

Flaws

Some advantages of a vine if placed or cared for incorrectly can easily become its disadvantages:

Strong stems can grow and penetrate under the roof (especially under slates and tiles) and over time cause damage to it and also clog gutters. They appear mainly when growing grapes near buildings.
A powerful and fast-growing root system, when placed near the foundation, can lead to its destruction.
When planted near windows and terraces, the dense foliage provides extensive shade; To improve the access of light to the premises, it is necessary to regularly remove shoots and form a green mass.
Late timing of the appearance of greenery on the stems, in the spring decorative role plants are minimal.

Thick cover of overgrown wild grapes

Where and when to plant girlish grapes

To provide maximum effect Before decorating a site with these grapes, you need to carefully choose the time and place of planting.

Selecting a location

The plant is unpretentious, so it can be planted anywhere.

If decorative purposes are pursued, you should know that the color of the foliage depends on the choice of location and the degree of its illumination:

From the south, southeast, southwest and west sides, where the vineyard gets a lot of brightness sunlight, the foliage will be dominated by orange, purple and other shades of red.
On the northern and eastern sides, where there is no direct sunlight or only for a short time, the foliage remains green all season.

When planted in sunny places, the grapes will grow faster, form denser foliage and the leaves will be larger.

Taking these features into account, you can create interesting and varied color scheme compositions.

Grape shoots in a sunny place

When to plant

This vine can be planted in the general time frame for planting all crops - in spring or autumn. If possible, it is advisable to root grapes in late September - early October.

How to plant girlish grapes

One of the names of the plant is “wild grapes,” which in particular indicates its unpretentiousness in growing conditions.

The soil

The plant is undemanding to soil quality and can grow even in poor conditions. favorable conditions. To provide him best opportunities for growth, you should choose fertile soil, quite loose, capable of well permeating and retaining moisture. Suitable loams with relatively neutral pH values - in the range from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.

Proper landing includes the following steps:

In unsuitable soils, holes or trenches 50-60 cm wide and deep are first made.
A drainage layer is placed at the bottom ( broken brick, crushed stone, expanded clay) at least 10-15 cm.
Fill with a mixture of soil, humus (compost) and sand in an approximate ratio of 2:2:1.
When planting in a container, it is advisable to choose a container with a width and depth of at least 30-40 cm, since the plant forms a developed root system.
After preparation seat The soil is periodically watered for two to three weeks to allow the soil to settle and compact.

Landing rules

For better grape growth, follow the following rules:

The prepared planting material is carefully dug up to damage the roots as little as possible.
At the planned location, make small holes the size of a soil ball with roots. An interval of 50 to 100 cm can be maintained between neighboring seedlings, depending on the desired density of green cover. Even with fairly wide intervals, the grapes grow quite densely, forming many shoots.
The root of the seedling is lowered into the hole, sprinkled with soil and lightly compacted. The root collar is left at ground level or slightly above. Before planting, “Epin” or “Kornevin” is added to the holes to improve root formation.
The planted plants are watered. The surface of the ground after watering can be mulched with soil, humus, and compost. This way the moisture will remain longer, ensuring better growth.

Rooted seedling with young shoots

When planting and replanting grapes, support for its growth is prepared in advance. Frames and gratings are installed, strong threads and wire are pulled. You should not replant plants older than 2 years, since long shoots are difficult to tear off from the previous support and tuck into a new one. It is better to plant young seedlings.

Planting methods

You can grow virgin grapes in different ways:

the plant is rooted by cuttings;
rooted by root suckers and layering;
You can sow seeds, but this is a more labor-intensive process.

Planting seeds

A little-used method, since often the seeds of virgin grapes do not have time to ripen. In addition, other planting methods ensure rapid and complete growth.

Seeds are planted in prepared, loose and flavored soil to a depth of 1 cm. Planting dates are spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). For spring planting it is necessary to do hardening: soak the seeds for several hours in cold water, place in a damp cloth and keep in the refrigerator for a week.

Sowing grape seeds

Planting cuttings

Rooting cuttings is a simpler method than planting seeds. It is used when it is not possible to obtain layering or root shoots. Planting can be carried out throughout the warm period, preferably in autumn or spring.

For propagation, it is better to take lignified fragments of stems. The vine shoots are cut into cuttings 25-30 cm long and approximately the thickness of a pencil - so that each has 3-5 full buds. Then they are buried in soft, loose soil so that two or three buds remain above the surface. After planting, water the soil well. In the hot season, the rooting zone is sprinkled with a mulch layer to retain moisture and is kept moist. Seedlings should be protected from bright sunlight.

Preparing cuttings for planting

Layerings and root suckers

Scheme of grape propagation by layering

You can carry out the rooting process artificially - by removing and spreading the vine vine on the ground. Every 40-50 cm it is sprinkled or dropped in places where there are buds. You can secure the shoot with slingshots and pins.

The buried stems are constantly moistened. After the roots have formed, the shoot is cut into pieces and planted in prepared holes or trenches.

The video shows propagation by layering of virgin grapes. Filmed by the Garden Joys channel.

Caring for virgin grapes

The plant develops well even with minimal watering and without fertilizer. The main job of caring for it is pruning and shaping.

Watering

Maiden grapes do not require regular watering. In humid climates or moderate rainfall, it may not need to be watered at all. During dry, hot periods, it is enough to thoroughly moisten the soil under the plantings once or twice a month. If the vine grows in containers, the soil needs to be cared for more carefully and moistened as needed. Good result Laying a 5-7 cm thick mulch layer under the roots helps preserve moisture.

Watering a young seedling

Top dressing

Since “wild” grapes do not bear fruit, they do not need special feeding. To supply stems and leaves nutrients enough organic matter laid down during planting and added as mulch. Additionally, during the summer you can carry out one or two waterings with complex mineral fertilizer (Nitroammophos) - 2-3 tsp. for 10 liters of water.

Pruning grapes in spring

Since the vine grows very quickly (annual growth is two to three meters), it needs to be pruned regularly. It is better to do this in the spring, since at the same time you can remove shoots damaged by frost. While creating decorative elements pruning is combined with formative actions.

To simplify the work of pruning and creating a plant crown, there are simple rules:

Think over and prepare decorative designs in advance. Form the crown, directing the growth of shoots, from the first year of planting.
Distribute the stems evenly over the support. Avoid excessive weaving or thickening. Secure growing shoots in a timely manner so that they do not break out in separate strands and grow beyond the designated structure.
Make sure that young shoots do not spread across the ground. This is fraught with their rapid rooting. IN short time grapes can take over a large area, which will be quite difficult to clear from the bushes.
Formative pruning is carried out in the spring, before the buds awaken. The absence of foliage makes the work much easier.
Sanitary pruning - removal of old, damaged, dried out and diseased stems - is carried out throughout the gardening season.
Excessively thickened and intertwined arrays are easier to cut short and begin to form again.

Spring pruning and crown formation

Pests and diseases

Maiden grapes have enviable resistance to diseases and insect pests. If, due to excess moisture, the stems and leaves of the plant are affected by rot, they should be removed.

You should temporarily refrain from watering and treat the crown with a solution of a fungicide:

Bordeaux mixture;
Rowright;
Ridomil;
Topaz et al.

If any pest is detected, you can apply an insecticidal solution:

Intavir;
Karbofos;
Fufanon;
Actellik.

It is easy to wash off ordinary aphids with a stream of water from a hose or treat the crown with a solution of laundry soap.

Preparing for winter

In regions with cold climates and harsh winters, it is good to grow the five-leaf (Virginia) grape variety. It is most resistant to frost and does not require insulation. Other species (triacum, Henry, Thomson grapes) are more thermophilic. To protect them from freezing, it is better to remove them from their supports and cover them. Young plantings may need insulation. To protect them from freezing, the soil with seedlings is covered with dry leaves and spruce branches.

Preparing grapes for winter

Types and varieties of virgin grapes

In gardening and landscape design three types have become widespread decorative grapes:

Five-leafed (virginian);
Tripointed (ivy-shaped);
Attached.

Five-leafed (virginian)

The most common species in garden plots. Place of origin: moist forests in eastern North America. This is a large vine up to 20 m long. Young shoots are red in color and turn green with age. The leaves consist of oblong (up to 10 cm) pointed leaflets on petioles. The upper side is dark green, the lower side is light.

The view has a number of advantages:

high survivability;
grows in urban environments;
easy to reproduce;
not susceptible to diseases and pests;
does not need shelter for the winter.

The most common varieties in ornamental gardening are:

Engelman. It has smaller leaves.
Wall. The shoots are able to climb up flat, steep surfaces due to the special structure of the clinging tendrils.
Hairy. A variety with improved decorativeness, shoots and crown of reddish shades, the underside of the leaves is pubescent.
Star Showers. Crown of unusual color: green with white spots summer period, red and pink - in autumn.

Variety Star Showers

Tripointed (ivy-shaped)

The species originates in the territories of China, Japan and Korea. This is a vine with branched tendrils and numerous suckers.

Country house, Vacation home, rural property - everywhere there are buildings that are not pleasing to the eye. The rapidly growing decorative liana girl's grapes. Planting and caring for the plant is simple, and the decoration effect is exceptional.

Getting to know the girl's grapes

A decorative vine from the grape family can create any composition. Its vines stretch up to 20 meters, with an annual growth of 2-3 meters. Rough, tenacious tendrils find any unevenness and pull the shoot close to the support. Along vertical stones, wooden surfaces The vine rises on its own, as can be seen in the photo. The girl's grapes grow over the years and cover the wall with a carpet of very beautiful leaves with five blades extending on long petioles.

Bright green, never diseased leaves create a carpet on any surface. In autumn, this landscape turns purple and remains so until the leaves fall in late autumn. The branches bear small blue berries that resemble grapes, but they are inedible. They can remain in the winter as a treat for birds.

The birthplace of this amazing plant is North America, East Asia. It began to be used for decoration in 1622. Five-leaf grapes and their ivy-shaped form are cultivated. The use of virgin grapes in landscape design can be recommended for many reasons:

the culture is winter-hardy and does not require shelter for the winter;
the plant does not get sick and does not become food for pests;
grapes are undemanding to soil and location;
decorative and grows quickly;
easy to reproduce.

Who can be left indifferent by the photo of girlish grapes in landscape design, the photo was taken 4 years after planting the cuttings.

The plant is used to create a chain-link mesh. Cover with the help of a fast-growing vine. Great importance has a permanent decorative effect of the plant. It does not need to be treated against pests, which means it does not harm the environment. Its branches safely withstand any frost, and in the spring the created composition comes to life and delights with young, fresh greenery. Caring for the plant consists of regular pruning, after which there are more leaves and the carpet is denser. Fairy tale characters live in parks if skillful hand the artist was able to create a frame for the plant. The photo of girlish grapes in landscape design in this picture is unlikely to leave the gardener indifferent.

Maiden grapes do not need special support. All he needs is the roughness of the walls and the ability to create a hold. The liana clings to adventitious roots and is a climbing plant.

Propagation of virgin grapes

Choosing a landing site is easy. The liana will grow in any degree of shade. But if the maiden grape grows on the north side, then there will be no autumn purple leaf. In autumn the leaf will remain green until dropped. The liana grows better in a lighted place. When planting a plant, you should know that the adventitious roots are attached to the surface so firmly that it is impossible to tear off the branch without causing injury to it.

Maiden five-leaf grapes propagate easily. Several methods are used, each of which has its own characteristics:

layering;
cuttings;
seeds.

From breeding experience, the fastest way to propagate in summer with good survival rate is with a whip, which you borrow from your neighbors. A whip laid in a watered, shallow groove in the ground with the crown raised will definitely take root. There are other ways of laying them so as to form waves, with one bud in the ground and one on the surface. You will get rooting in several places with layering. However, receiving a living seedling directly from a bush will happen even faster. To do this, you should place a two-year-old layer in the ground, strengthen it there, and until rooting it will feed from the mother plant.

During the rooting of the green vine, the soil must be moist. It would be useful to cover the soil from drying out with geotextiles so that the air exchange on the surface of the hole is not disturbed.

Propagation of virgin grapes by cuttings is possible immediately, using freshly cut material as thick as a pencil. In this case, the petiole should have 5 buds, three of which go deeper. Constantly moist soil and covering the top from the sun's rays will ensure 100% survival rate of the plant. Cultivation of vines from cuttings can be done at any time of the warm season. If it is not possible to obtain planting material, it can be purchased.

Unpretentious plants quickly take root and begin to grow. However, to root a weak plant, you need to create good conditions at first:

a week before planting, dig up the soil and remove weeds;
dig a hole 50 cm deep, create drainage, and a sand cushion on top;
The top layer of fertile soil should be from garden soil, compost with the addition of sand.

The main pruning with formation is done after the cessation of sap flow in the fall or in early spring on a sleeping bush. Pruning is done to the bud, leaving a stump of no more than 0.5 cm, so that knots do not disturb the decorative effect.

Liana propagation by seeds is almost never used. Seeds must undergo stratification for one and a half months at a temperature of 5 0. Shoots will appear in a month. The seeds remain viable for only one year. Autumn sowing is also possible. But in this case, the seeds will germinate in a year.

Points to consider when growing virgin grapes

You should not place the vine where it is necessary to cover a dilapidated structure. A rapidly growing plant weighs down the structure and it may fall. If the wall is plastered, the plant may tear out a piece and fall with it. Therefore, the wall must be monolithic, brick, concrete or wood. It’s good when the support is framed. Chain-link mesh and reinforcement are perfect.

If the plant is planned to be put on the roof, then it should not be tiled or slate - the vine will break or lower the sheets. The branches will entwine all the bumps that come along the way, whether it’s an antenna or chimney. Therefore, the formation of a crown will give the object a neat appearance and prevent the plant from entering restricted parts of the structure.

By creating beauty with the participation of various ornamental plants, the gardener gains not only pride in his well-kept garden and artistic taste. Maiden grapes tend to kill some fungi and bacteria. The microclimate in a house entwined with vines will become more pleasant, as the heating of the room in summer is regulated. Liana becomes an obstacle in front of sun rays and on a hot afternoon the house is cool.

The statement that the facade of the house is not ventilated under the cover of greenery is not confirmed. Leaves protect the walls from slanting rain. But we should not forget about the sucker roots, which take up moisture. Therefore, using maiden grapes to decorate an estate in combination with other plants will create a unique look.

The ability of vines to tolerate winter conditions without additional shelter is attractive. In particularly frosty regions, experts advise that during the first years young plants should be slightly insulated by covering them with a protective film.

Useful and beautiful girlish grapes - video

An integral part of many city landscapes are buildings covered with vines. They add a certain mystery and nobility to the appearance of cities. To achieve interesting decorative effect The wild grape plant is often used. It is used not only for decorating walls, but also for forming hedges and. In addition to performing decorative functions, the plant provides coolness in the summer and creates comfortable conditions for the relaxation of its owners and their guests.

Of the numerous species of vines in Russia, the most widespread is the maiden grape. He earned his popularity thanks to unpretentious care, rapid growth vigor and cold resistance. Maiden grapes, planting and caring for which do not require special knowledge and effort, feel great in central and northern Russia. He enjoys great love from gardeners in Moscow, St. Petersburg and adjacent regions.

Wild grapes belong to the Parthenocissus genus, native to East Asia and North America. It is one of three species used for decorative purposes.
The people have adopted a romantic name - maiden grapes or virgin grapes. The reason is so unusual name became just the ability of a plant to pollinate itself without the help of foreign crops. The ripening of fruits as a result of the immaculate conception led to the consolidation of the name among the broad masses.
The plant is also known as five-leaf grape. The name comes from the shape of the leaf blade. It consists of five leaves fused at the base, connected by petioles.

Description

The perennial plant is distinguished by good and fast growth vigor. Liana is able to cling to rough surfaces, various supports and stretch upward along vertical planes due to special antennae. Maiden grapes, which require virtually no care, can quickly cover large surfaces.

The plant is notable for its luxurious foliage. The palmate leaves on the petioles form a beautiful green mass. If maiden grape seedlings are planted in the spring, they will provide support for dark green foliage throughout the summer. Maiden grapes take on a purple hue in the fall and paint the façade with bright colors.

During the flowering period, they form fragrant flowers that attract insects. The inflorescences bear fruit in September despite their decorative nature. Small dark blue berries with a waxy coating are inedible, but they contrast beautifully with the foliage, creating a picturesque ensemble.
The culture is resistant to fungal diseases and rot. It is not susceptible to insects and small pests.

The grapes are frost-resistant and can withstand negative temperatures even uncovered. Only young, immature shoots and leaves can be damaged by frost. However, this problem is quickly solved by the formation of new ones.

Resistance to dry weather and lack of humidity is also not a problem for the plant. Wild grapes, which can be planted on any soil, are able to provide themselves with the necessary moisture thanks to their developed root system. Penetrating deep into the soil, it absorbs the required volume of water, thereby eliminating the need for periodic watering.

Planting wild grapes is easy. The rooting and survival rate of cuttings is high. Good growth vigor allows you to reach a height of 25 m, adding 2 - 3 m annually.

Another feature of the plant is its durability and growth of green mass throughout its life. The bush is capable of delivering aesthetic pleasure to others until old age.

You can plant girlish grapes anywhere, regardless of the light level. It thrives in sun and shade, showing amazing growth and development results.

Advantages

You can plant girlish grapes for various purposes. Its main advantages and benefits are as follows:

used to disguise unsightly places on plots and dachas;
used as decorative covering building walls;
allows you to form geometric shapes of varying complexity;
serves as a material for the formation of hedges and fences;
protects balconies, terraces, verandas from precipitation and gusts of wind;
creates the necessary shadow in gazebos;
improves the microclimate;
kills pathogenic bacteria;
prevents dust and harmful gases from entering the building;
provides noise protection;
reduces the level of humidity in the building;
protects buildings from overheating;
serves as a shelter and nesting place for birds;
has aesthetic functions.

Flaws

Wild grapes, which require little or no care, are often grown near the walls of buildings. Maiden grapes grow well on balconies and terraces. However, before you start growing the crop, familiarize yourself with the disadvantages this process so that there is no need to replant the virgin grapes. In the case of the formation of particularly strong shoots, landscaping of facades can lead to the following negative consequences:

shoots penetrate under roofing coverings and over time cause their unsuitability;
may cause destruction of the plaster;
can damage the foundation;
drain funnels and gutters become clogged;
shade the windows;
adhere well to walls, making them difficult to remove;
create a dull picture of the facade after the leaves have fallen.

Landing

You can read in detail how to grow virgin grapes on your site on our website. You can learn how to plant or transplant crops correctly using the following recommendations:

choose late September or early October for fall planting;
Start planting grapes in spring at the end of March - April;
give preference to soils with a neutral acidity level, although soil requirements are minimal;
dig holes 60 x 60 x 60 cm at a distance of 1.5 - 2.0 m;
install a support for attaching the shoots;
lay a bottom drainage layer of crushed stone or gravel;
fertilize the soil with a mixture of humus, sand and soil;
lower the seedling into the hole so that its upper part remains above the surface of the ground;
cover with soil;
dig a hole of small diameter for watering near each bush;
Water generously.

How to propagate

The crop can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, seedlings or layering.

Seeds

the process is rare and rather slow;
soak the grape seed in cold water;
put the container in the refrigerator for 7 days;
lower it into the ground to a depth of 1 cm.

Cuttings

select last year's cuttings about 30 cm long with 4 - 5 eyes;
put them in water to stimulate the formation of roots for several days;
lower it into the ground at an angle so that about 2 buds remain above ground level;
Water periodically until active growth begins.

By layering

choose an escape that is about 2 – 3 years old;
bend it to the ground and secure it with wire;
fill the attachment points with earth;
water periodically;
on next year cut off the branches, dig them up along with the roots and replant.

Transfer

Over time, it may be necessary to replant the grapes. The sequence of the process is similar to planting, however, it is recommended to plant in early spring or autumn, until the plant has entered the active phase of growth and development. Trim the roots, fertilize the soil and water the transplanted bushes periodically until they are completely rooted. It is not advisable to replant grown seedlings that are 2 years old or more, as this can disrupt the branching of the plant.

Care

An unpretentious plant does not require special measures. It is able to grow and develop freely in its natural environment. If you want to achieve a certain effect and strive to grow a beautiful decorative culture, which will not harm the building or neighboring plants, then it is necessary to care for the grapes. Basic care recommendations are as follows:

water 3 – 4 times a season with 10 liters of water;
mulch the soil with a 5–6 cm layer;
remove weeds periodically;
loosen the soil;
carry out spring pruning using a fan method;
remove excess and damaged shoots;
organic and mineral fertilizers at the beginning of summer and during the period of active growth;
prune ripe bunches, otherwise the vineyard will not look aesthetically pleasing;
remove fallen leaves to avoid increased dampness;
Young shoots can be covered with agrofibre or snow for protection for the winter.

Now you know how to plant wild grapes on your plot. Choose the method that is most convenient for you and proceed to your possessions. If desired, you can use it in the design of building facades. You can use wild grapes on the balcony to create a cozy, cool relaxation area. Whatever you choose, the beauty and aesthetics of your home will be ensured.

You can buy seedlings here

Video about girlish grapes

If you want your country house to look original, for example, like a fairy-tale castle, and garden area resembled a magical garden, then you should pay attention to a plant such as girl’s grapes.

As it develops, it grows tight vines that create a dense carpet on a wall, gazebo, or fence, which allows any objects to look as if they belong to the Middle Ages.

Features of girlish grapes

Photos of this plant can be found on the Internet, however, not everyone knows that it is known under another name - virgin ivy. This can be explained by the fact that it can form fruits without pollination.

The flowers of the plant do not look attractive and the fruits are also not edible. However, for many summer residents, maiden grapes are interesting because they can be very successfully use in landscape design, the main thing that attracts owners of suburban areas is its decorative foliage.

The leaves have a palmate shape and are distinguished by their bright green color. The first frost causes the foliage to change from its original color to a more purple color. However, until winter comes, suburban area will not lose its main decoration formed by the leaves of red and purple flowers.

The owner will have to periodically prune the grapes, because if this perennial crop is not controlled, it will fill all the available space.

Because of this property, virgin grapes have become widespread in landscape design, because with its help you can easily hide unattractive outbuildings, as well as hide untreated walls of houses.

Among other benefits of plants, it is worth highlighting that it contributes to a healthier microclimate, so it can suppress individual species pathogenic microorganisms.

Varieties of wild ornamental grapes

The main thing that attracts summer residents to this plant is that virgin grapes do not require special care. Therefore, you only need to choose a place for planting, after which it will develop independently.

Advantages such as unpretentiousness and pronounced decorative properties have become one of the main reasons why this perennial can often be found in many gardens.

When getting acquainted with girlish grapes, it must be said that he is a representative of the Vinogradov family. It includes 12 species, many of them are found in Asia and North America.

Despite their some differences, they all received wide use as a decoration in landscape design.

Types of virgin grapes and landscape design

Five-leaf maiden grape. This variety is often called Virginia grapes. In one year, its vines can reach a height of approximately 2.5 m. This is enough to cover a building 15 m high with thickets.

The leaves have a complex palmate shape, can reach 10 cm in length, and have a pointed tip at the end. This grape variety acquires its most pronounced decorative properties in the fall, when its foliage turns red.

It began to be grown as a cultivated plant back in 1622. Therefore, you should not be surprised that photographs of this variety can be present both in modern magazines and in paintings dating back to the Renaissance and Enlightenment.

Tripointed maiden grapes. This variety is often called ivy grape. This can be explained by the fact that its foliage strongly resembles this plant. The leaves of this grape variety are distinguished by their three-lobed shape.

Shoots can grow up to 15–20 m in length. This grape variety tolerates negative temperatures well. Already during the first frosts, noticeable changes occur in the appearance of this variety: instead of the usual color, the leaves acquire red-purple and orange shades.

It is customary to distinguish separate varieties of this plant that have distinct characteristics. Golden look has leaves decorated with yellow spots. The purple variety has dark burgundy foliage.

The Vicha grape also has pronounced decorative properties - its leaves small sizes have a shiny surface, and at the time of the first frost they change their usual color to orange.

Preparing for landing

Maiden grapes feel good not only in sunny places, but also in the shade. But at the same time, you need to keep in mind that in the fall, when the first frosts occur, the girl’s grapes acquire a color characteristic of this period of the year.

However, many experts agree that the most suitable for growing this plant is sunny plot.

You can grow wild grapes near a fence or other support on the north side, however, in this case, they will not change their green color until the leaves begin to fall off due to the first cold weather.

Growing on the southern and eastern sides of the site is advantageous because in these places propagation takes less time and the leaves grow larger.

You can sow seeds in the fall. As for transplanting seedlings, it is recommended to plan this work for the spring. Maiden grapes are not very picky about soil quality.

However, this plant still feels better if it grows on a special prepared soil mixtures . To prepare it you will need the following components:

2 parts of garden land.
2 parts compost.
1 part sand.

After thoroughly mixing all the ingredients, fill the holes prepared for planting cuttings with this composition.

Propagation by seeds

As a rule, cultivation of wild grapes from seeds is carried out only experienced summer residents. It is not recommended for beginners to use this method of reproduction, not only because this process requires a lot of time and effort.

Often it is not possible to achieve the desired result because not all of the seeds used may germinate. However, in a situation where the gardener does not have planting material for propagation, he has no other alternatives.

A mandatory operation that seeds must undergo before planting is stratification. It can be carried out in natural conditions: for this, the seeds are sown in the fall in the ground, where they must be hardened during three months.

This can also be done in the spring, however, in this case, the time for sowing is chosen 6–7 weeks earlier than the usual sowing time at home:

Take a small container and fill it with clean sand.
The sand needs to be spilled well, and then the existing seeds should be sown in it.
Then the container must be covered with film.
Next, the container must be placed in a cold place, for example, in the refrigerator. To properly carry out this procedure, it is necessary to ensure a temperature within + 5 degrees Celsius.
During certification, it is necessary to ensure that the sand is constantly wet. They do this until they begin to sprout from the seeds.

If the seeds undergo such preparatory treatment in open ground, then already a month after their sowing you can expect the first shoots to appear.

Planting cuttings

Many gardeners choose the method of propagation by cuttings because of the lower labor intensity and the time it takes to obtain planting material. After cutting the vines placed in open ground, where they take root quite quickly.

To obtain high-quality planting material, this work is carried out in the following order:

For propagation, cuttings with at least four buds are required;
the cutting must be placed in the prepared hole in such a way that two buds are located above the ground;
planting must be completed with watering;
to avoid burns, it is recommended to protect the bed from direct sunlight;
get good seedlings possible if the soil is constantly moist.

Reproduction by layering

This method of obtaining wild grape seedlings may be of interest to those who already have mature bushes on their site. In this case, planting and caring for young plants can be carried out immediately after choosing a place for a new bush.

The reproduction process itself in this way is carried out in the following order:

In early spring, you need to mark the vines at the age of two to three years.
Next, they are bent to the ground and secured in this position.
The bending area must be covered with fertile soil.
While waiting for the cuttings to take root, it is necessary to water regularly.
After a year, the cuttings will have formed a full-fledged root system, after which they can be transplanted to permanent place.

Further care

After receiving the planting material and replanting it, the main care measures will be reduced to removing excess shoots and installing special supports for the growth of vines.

Although branches can often climb the walls of a building on their own, many gardeners come to their aid, specially installing fencing, for example, chain-link.

Young bushes of virgin grapes experience the need for moisture only at a young age. Adult bushes have enough moisture, which comes with precipitation and from internal reserves.

Caring for perennials is also simplified because the owner does not have to take measures to cover them for the winter. However, for young plantings this event is mandatory.

Fertilizer application

For better absorption of fertilizers, it is recommended to fertilize while watering the grapes. For this you can use nitroammophoska. In order to stimulate the growth of grapes, it is useful to add complex fertilizers to the soil.

Maiden grapes respond well with active growth if measures are taken to improve the quality of the soil. Therefore, in addition to loosening, it is also recommended before planting add peat to the soil and humus.

You can increase fertility by fertilizing the soil with two-year-old compost. Mulching is a fairly effective operation, during which sawdust or rotted leaves can be used.

Any suburban area, as well as the house located on it, can look unusual if you use an original approach to its design. One such idea would be to use virgin grapes.

This ornamental plant capable of forming long shoots that can hide any tall buildings, creating medieval effect.

Naturally, growing this plant has its own characteristics. Special attention should be given to young seedlings, since they not only require regular watering, but also protection from frost.

However, adult plants are unpretentious, so the owner will only need carrying out pruning, if he wants to limit the further spread of grapes.

Do you still doubt whether to plant virgin grapes in the garden? Cast aside all doubts and get down to business! There is no vine that is easier to grow and care for to decorate your site. With the help of maiden grapes, you can turn a barn into a fairy-tale palace, a pergola into a mysterious tent, and a chain-link fence into an impenetrable wall. We will tell you how this plant reproduces in open ground and help you choose a variety for planting. The article is illustrated with colorful photos.

Description of the plant: varieties and varieties

The botanical name is Parthenocissus, translated as “virgin ivy”, belongs to the grape family, has a second name - “maiden grape”.

Maiden grapes are often used to decorate the territory of a personal plot.

The genus Parthenocissus consists of 19 species. We grow two types of virgin grapes in open ground:

Five-leafed (Parthenocissus guinguefolia);
Tripointed (Parthenocissustricuspidata).

Maiden grape five-leaf

Five-leaf virgin ivy is a vine with five palmately compound leaves. The leaves are oval-shaped, pointed. For growth, a support is needed, to which the vine is attached using the tendrils present on the shoots. With normal development, shoots reach a length of more than 18 meters. Blooms in summer. The fruits are inedible. In autumn, green foliage turns red. Prefers to grow in sunny places. Very frost-resistant.

Tripointed maiden grape is a vine with three palmate leaves. At the ends of the shoots there are up to 10 tendrils, with which the plant is attached to the support. The tendrils have suction cups, so you are more likely to break the shoot than to tear it away from the support. Shoots grow up to 10 meters. Less frost-resistant than five-leafed.

Variety Viche

Varieties of virgin grapes:

Henry is good for indoor breeding. Planted in fairly deep containers. Suitable for bonsai.
Attached - grown as a houseplant.
Enelmana - it has small leaves that sit tightly together. It grows very quickly.
Hairy - leaves are pubescent below, like young shoots. Winters poorly.
Viche is a very popular triogrape variety.

Planting a plant

Maiden grapes do not require particularly fertile soil and do not like dry and depleted soil; they tolerate slight soil salinity. It is undemanding to lighting. Feels good in the sun and shade. But still keep in mind that planting in the shade will affect the color of its foliage in the fall - it will remain green until frost and will not turn beautiful burgundy or yellow, and the vine may not bloom and form picturesque clusters with dark berries.

The time of planting does not matter; the vine takes root equally well in spring and autumn. According to gardeners, all you have to do is plant and water, and then the grapes grow on their own - just be sure to trim off the excess growth.

Maiden grapes grow well without constant care

A week before planting in a permanent place, you need to prepare and cultivate the soil. Remove weeds and dig a planting hole measuring 50 x 60 cm. Mix the excavated soil with a bucket of compost and a bucket of sand. At the bottom of the pit you need to pour a liter jar of ash or 300-400 g of double superphosphate. Arrange drainage: place crushed stone, broken brick, expanded clay (whatever is at hand) at the bottom, and put planks or pieces of slate on top so that the drainage does not quickly become covered with earth. Add some of the excavated soil. Next, straighten the roots of the seedling and add the remaining soil. Form a watering hole and mulch. The distance between seedlings is recommended to be at least 1 m. After planting, be sure to water well.

If you plan to grow a perennial ground cover of virgin grapes over a large area, then the plants should be planted every 0.6 m, and 2-4 pieces should be planted in each hole.

Plan in advance the area for growing virgin grapes

While the vine is small, install a support or tie it to direct the plant in the desired direction. An adult plant requires serious support, so the vine is planted in open ground on long years, then take care of this in advance.

Important. When planting virgin grapes, do not bury the root collar - it should be located at ground level.

Caring for virgin grapes

Maiden grape is a very unpretentious tree-like vine; in open ground conditions, caring for it is quite simple, you just need to regularly and promptly carry out sanitary pruning of the vines and water it in severe drought. Without trimming it beautiful plant can turn into ugly thickets.

The most important thing is to formulate the culture in a timely manner

There is no need to cover the plant for the winter, since frost-resistant varieties predominate in our latitudes, but even if the vines freeze, there is nothing to worry about - new young shoots will emerge from the replacement buds. It is enough just to trim the lashes to healthy wood.

The first few years the liana actively increases its root mass; during this period it requires fertilizing with fertilizers twice during the growing season. You also need to tie up the young plant; in the future it will find support on its own, clinging with its tendrils and aerial roots for any roughness on the surface.

Strengthened virgin ivy will give an annual growth of several meters. To prevent the vine from entangling the entire area, let's figure out how to carry out the shaping.

Girlish grapes definitely need support

Growing young shoots need to be guided along the support, thus forming the skeleton of the plant.
Don’t be afraid to remove those shoots that don’t grow where you want them right away. This will not harm the vine.
After the formation of the skeleton, only sanitary pruning is carried out in the spring and restraining pruning in the summer. All weak, damaged shoots are removed, as well as those that thicken the plant or give it a sloppy appearance.

Advice. When pruning shoots, leave no more than 5 mm above the bud, then you will save yourself from protruding stumps of lashes, which looks unsightly.

Fertilizer and feeding of grapes

In the first three years, the root system of the plant actively develops. At the beginning of summer or spring, you need to feed the virgin ivy with nitroammophos - 40-50 g, or any other universal complex fertilizer. In the future, the plant does not need feeding.

Plant propagation

There are several ways to propagate virgin grapes in open ground; choose the one that suits you best.

Propagation of virgin grapes by layering

By layering. In the spring, select a lash with buds and dig it in several places to a depth of 5 cm, first pin it to the ground in these places with wire or a hairpin. The end of the whip is not buried. Water well. By autumn you will receive several ready-grown seedlings.

Cuttings. Cuttings are carried out in spring or autumn. Select a 3-4 year old vine the thickness of a pencil and cut into pieces with 4-5 green buds. Tear off all the leaves. Plant so that two buds remain on the surface. To make the cuttings take root faster, lightly scratch the part that you dig.

Advice. If the cutting is planted in a sunny place, then it needs to be shaded until the first shoot forms and watered regularly for good survival.

Maiden grape cuttings take root very easily

Seeds. This is a rather troublesome method. Ripe fruits should rot, after which you need to carefully remove the seeds from them. In the spring, before planting, they need to be stratified for better germination. To do this, the seeds are first soaked for several hours in cold water, then placed in damp sand and refrigerated for a month.

Root suckers. This is perhaps the easiest way to propagate virgin ivy. Where the vine comes into contact with the soil, roots form and take root easily. You just need to plant them in a permanent place, without deepening the root collar.

Diseases and pests

Diseases and pests avoid this vine, so you shouldn’t expect surprises from this side, which means you won’t have any unnecessary troubles.

Most likely, there will be no need to protect virgin grapes from pests

It very rarely happens that aphids settle on young shoots; they do not cause much harm. It is enough to wash it off with water from a hose or spray it with a solution of laundry soap with the addition of alcohol. If it doesn't help folk remedy, use the biological product “Fitoverm” or the insecticide “Fufanon” according to the instructions.

Maiden grapes in combination with other plants

Other vines go well with maiden grapes in landscape design. Clematis, according to gardeners, grows even better in such a neighborhood, because virgin ivy protects the clematis roots and the base of the stems from the sun.

It is good to combine virgin grapes with hops; if the green leaves of regular hops seem too boring, plant an Aureus plant with yellow-green leaves. Greens decorative leaves The maiden grapes will be favorably emphasized by the flowers of the climbing rose and will become a support for it.

Maiden grapes decorating the gazebo

Against the background of a fence braided with lianas, conifers look good: spruce, juniper and thuja; if you add turf and barberry to this composition, then the conifers will visually lose their heaviness. When the girlish grapes shed their leaves, the coniferous group will emerge as a soloist to the foreground.

Maiden grapes are a surprisingly flexible plant with strong and flexible shoots. In landscape design, maiden grapes are most often used for vertical gardening walls of various buildings and structures: these are gazebos, fences, walls of outbuildings, retaining walls. Combine with other plants.

Virgin ivy reproduces easily and grows quickly: in 2-3 years it can completely drape a 2-story building. At the same time, planting occupies a very small area, which is important.

Maiden grapes can create shade in a gazebo or disguise an ugly fence

You can use it to create a screen for zoning a site, to disguise unsightly buildings and areas: septic tanks and compost heaps, hide the chain-link fence from the views of curious neighbors, and turn a dry tree into a fancy structure.

A garden that has virgin grapes always looks richer visually: in summer these are green vertical planes, and in the fall bright yellow and red surfaces that bring a feeling of comfort to the landscape and a romantic mood.

With ease, a girl's grape can cover an entire building

Since this is a deciduous plant, its vines remain bare from autumn to spring, and this does not always look attractive. But the strict lines of the structures of fences, trellises, gazebos and pergolas come to the fore, and the vines lie on top like carpets.

This vine is used in landscape design as an excellent perennial ground cover plant in natural gardens. In addition to the decor, there are also advantages: it regulates the humidity in the area, protects from wind and sun, traps dust, reduces noise; the walls of a residential building covered with virgin ivy do not overheat in the summer, and are well ventilated in the fall and winter when the leaves fall.

About girlish grapes: video

Maiden grapes: photo

If you want your country house to look original, for example, like a fairy-tale castle, and your backyard to resemble a magical garden, then you should pay attention to a plant such as maiden grapes.

As it develops, it grows tight vines that create a dense carpet on a wall, gazebo, or fence, which allows any objects to look as if they belong to the Middle Ages.

Features of girlish grapes

The leaves are palmate in shape and have a bright green color. The first frost causes the foliage to change from its original color to a more purple color. However, until winter comes, the suburban area will not lose its main decoration, formed by the leaves of red and purple flowers.

The owner will have to periodically prune the grapes, because if this perennial crop is not controlled, it will fill all the available space.

Because of this property, virgin grapes have become widespread in landscape design, because with its help you can easily hide unattractive outbuildings, as well as hide untreated walls of houses.

Among other benefits of plants, it is worth highlighting that it contributes to a healthier microclimate, so it can suppress certain types of pathogens.

Varieties of wild ornamental grapes

Advantages such as unpretentiousness and pronounced decorative properties have become one of the main reasons why this perennial can often be found in many gardens.

When getting acquainted with girlish grapes, it must be said that he is a representative of the Vinogradov family. It includes 12 species, many of them are found in Asia and North America.

Despite their some differences, they all received wide use as a decoration in landscape design.

Types of virgin grapes and landscape design

Five-leaf maiden grape. This variety is often called Virginia grapes. In one year, its vines can reach a height of approximately 2.5 m. This is enough to cover a building 15 m high with thickets.

The Vicha grape also has pronounced decorative properties - its small leaves have a shiny surface, and at the time of the first frost they change their usual color to orange.

Preparing for landing

However, many experts agree that the most suitable for growing this plant is sunny plot.

Growing on the southern and eastern sides of the site is advantageous because in these places propagation takes less time and the leaves grow larger.

You can sow seeds in the fall. As for transplanting seedlings, it is recommended to plan this work for the spring. Maiden grapes are not very picky about soil quality.

However, this plant still feels better if it grows on a special prepared soil mixtures. To prepare it you will need the following components:

2 parts of garden land.
2 parts compost.
1 part sand.

After thoroughly mixing all the ingredients, fill the holes prepared for planting cuttings with this composition.