Growing grapes in Texas

266 Pages·53.136 MB·English

by  George Ray McEachern, Larry A Stein, Texas Agricultural Extension Service

Growing Grapes in Texas
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Service Series
CRAIG NESSLER AND DOUGLAS L. STEELE, General Editors

Growing Grapes in Texas
From the to the
Commercial Backyard
Vineyard Vine
J I M K A M A S
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY PRESS
College Station, Texas
Copyright © 2014 by Jim Kamas
All rights reserved
First edition
Manufactured in China by Everbest Printing Co. through FCI Print Group
This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48–1992 (Permanence of Paper).
Binding materials have been chosen for durability.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kamas, Jim, 1955– author.
Growing grapes in Texas : from the commercial vineyard to the backyard vine /
Jim Kamas.—First edition.
pages cm—(Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Service series)
Includes index.
ISBN 978–1-62349–180–2 (flexbound : alk. paper)—
ISBN 978–1-62349–223–6 (e-book)
1. Viticulture—Texas. 2. Vineyards—Texas. I. Title.
II. Series: Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Service series.
SB387.76.T4K36 2014
634.809764—dc23
2014015245
“General editors for this series are Craig Nessler, director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and
Douglas L. Steele, director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.”
Unless otherwise credited, all photographs are from the author’s personal collection.
To my family—
my loving wife Jacy,
my grown kids Nicolas and Rebecca,
and our new addition, baby Jonah. 
You all make my life a joy.

Contents
Foreword, by Larry A. Stein ix
Preface xi
1. Why Do You Want to Plant a Vineyard? 1
2. History of Grape Growing in Texas 7
3. Grape-Growing Regions of Texas 12
4. Factors Limiting Grape Production in Texas 19
5. Systematics of the Genus Vitis 35
6. Choosing a Vineyard Site 44
7. Time line for Establishing and Planting the Vineyard 53
8. Vineyard Design 65
9. The Growth Cycle and Grape Maturity 70
10. Grapevine Physiology 82
11. Rootstock Selection 93
12. Selecting Fruiting Varieties 104
13. Choosing a Training System 115
14. Pruning and Training Dormant Vines 123
15. Canopy Management 139
16. Grapevine Nutrition and Vineyard Fertilization 149
17. Diseases Affecting Foliage and Fruit 167
18. Other Diseases Affecting Grapevines 184
19. Vineyard Floor Management 191
20. Grapevine Water Needs and Vineyard Irrigation 202
21. Insects and Mite Pests 210
22. Vertebrate Pest Control 221
23. Vineyard Equipment and Infrastructure Needs 225
24. Vineyard and Winery Relations 235
Glossary
241
Index 245

Foreword
What an honor to be able to provide a preview of what will become a
“must have” book for every viticulturist in the state, from the beginning
grape grower to that experienced grower looking for answers to every-
day problems. Jim draws on his broad experiences to answer questions
that potential or current growers did not even know they needed to ask.
The book is not only comprehensive but realistic and easy to understand,
though very technically accurate. Jim not only shares his philosophy but
carries you through all the vital steps needed to be successful in growing
grapes. From history, to grape regions in Texas, to rootstocks and varie-
ties, to training and pruning, to controlling diseases and insects—it is
all here. He draws on his own trials and tribulations to help others avoid
common pitfalls. Along the way he offers commonsense tips on the hows
and whys of what it takes to be a successful grape grower serving the
wineries of Texas.
I have known Jim since our days as graduate students, and I can as-
sure you that he lives and breathes perennial fruit crops in Texas and has
always had that special passion for grapes. He thrives on solving the nag-
ging problems that seem to crop up from time to time. So hang on for not
only an exciting but a worthwhile read that will definitely either inspire
you to want to be a grape grower or help you overcome the many chal-
lenges of growing grapes in Texas.
—Larry A. Stein
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
ix