The Best Grapevines for a Patio Cover

The Best Grapevines for a Patio Cover

Grapevines can provide shade from the sun and a tasty snack.

The best grape for your patio depends on what you expect from your vines. One thing to consider is that different grapes produce fruit at different times between midsummer and fall, so your patio will have a different look at those times. You should also think what you want to do with the fruit. The best grapes for eating from the vine may be different than those you use to make wine. European grapes (Vitis vinifera) tolerate more cold than American grapes (Vitis labrusca), but both grow in mild climates.

Midsummer Grapes

If you want the fruit on your vines to appear in July, the best choice is midsummer grapes that produce fruit early. For example, "Perlette" grapevines produce a medium size pale green fruit. It's seedless and can be grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 11. The "Perlette" grapevine produces fruit in mid-July. They're sweet and tart at the same time. Another grape that produces in mid-July is the "Flame Seedless" grape. "Flame Seedless" grapes can be grown in USDA zones 7 through 11. They're a purple-red color and the fruits are large and bright. "Flame Seedless" grapevines produce fruit in July. The grapes are firm and can be dried out and eaten as raisins.

Late Summer Grapes

If you want your vines to bear fruit later in the season, the best grapevines for your patio cover are those that produce fruit in August and September. "Black Monukka" grapes grow well in USDA zones 6 through 11 and produce fruit in late August. The berries themselves are longer than some other European grape cultivars. "Black Monukka" grapevines are hardy, so they're the best choice for a beginning gardener. "Muscat of Alexandria" grapes are a European cultivar and grow in USDA zones 7 through 11. They produce fruit in September. The color is a blend of green and gold. "Muscat of Alexandria" grapevines may produce a lot of fruit one season, and little the next.

Table Grapes

If you intend to eat the grapes straight from the vine, the best grapes may be sweet varieties. "Thompson Seedless" grapes, which grow in USDA zones 7 through 9, are sweet, small grapes. They're green and have a mild flavor. "Zinfandel" grapes are also sweet, and they become increasingly sweet throughout the season. The berries are large with thin, dark skins. "Zinfandel" grapes grow in USDA zones 7 through 10 and prefer warm weather. Both varieties have active vines that will provide a great deal of cover.

Wine Grapes

If you want your grapes to do more than just provide an attractive cover, wine grapes may be the best choice for you. They provide shade and you can harvest the fruit to use in wine-making. The "Cabernet Sauvignon" grape is good for home growers because it's both pest- and cold-resistant. It grows in USDA zones 7 through 10. Because the grapes have thick skins, they're less likely to burst and stain hard surfaces below when they drop. The "Chardonnay" grape, which grows in USDA zones 7 though 10, is another excellent wine grape to use on a patio. The vines adapt well to being trained for cover and should create a showy, full canopy. "Chardonnay" grapes tolerate more pollution, making them a good choice for urban areas.

Tips

When planting vines above a patio, consider attaching the vines from underneath the patio cover so birds can't eat the fruit as easily in the summer. Plan for one grapevine for every 50 to 100 feet of patio space that you want to cover.

About the Author

Melly Parker has been writing since 2007, focusing on health, business, technology and home improvement. She has also worked as a teacher and a bioassay laboratory technician. Parker now serves as a marketing specialist at one of the largest mobile app developers in the world. She holds a Master of Science in English.

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Parker, Melly. "The Best Grapevines for a Patio Cover." Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/grapevines-patio-cover-99729.html. Accessed 05 May 2019.

Parker, Melly. (n.d.). The Best Grapevines for a Patio Cover. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/grapevines-patio-cover-99729.html

Parker, Melly. "The Best Grapevines for a Patio Cover" accessed May 05, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/grapevines-patio-cover-99729.html