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Subject: Market Farming
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- From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
- To: <sharon_d AT excite.com>, "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Grape arbors
- Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2007 07:13:50 -0500
Sharon
Grapes are a part of my program and I've established
several vinaeyards. I currently have about 1000 vines at the Research Center. If
you do a search online for the Midwest Grape Production Guide you can find a
site to download it for free. There is a lot of good information there. It's a
big file but worth the wait to download it.
A key for successful trellises or arbors is to have
them be structurally sound. An arbor differs from a trellis in that it uses a
frame system with structural components (wood, steel, etc.) to carry the weight
of the vines and fruit. They are usually as much about landscaping value as
fruit production. Trellises usually depend on posts and wire to carry the weight
and stress of the vines. To build a successful trellis the key is to anchor the
wire to the ground so the ground bears the bulk of the stress. Earth anchors (a
rod with a screw-end and an eye on the other end) can be used to anchor the wire
and strong, rot-resistant posts will hold the wire up. Cedar 4x4's can serve as
posts. Use a high tensile strength wire (12,000 lb psi, more-or-less). We
get ours from local farm supply places like Tractor Supply, Farm and Fleet, etc.
There is hardware you can use too like tensioners (cranks) that keep the wire
tight.
If you know and older farmer, he/she might be able to
give you some advice. It's not much different from fence
building.
Bill Shoemaker, Sr Research Specialist, Food
Crops
University of Illinois - St Charles Horticulture Research Center www.nres.uiuc.edu/faculty/directory/shoemaker_wh.html
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- Re: [Market-farming] Grape arbors, Bill Shoemaker, 06/01/2007
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