GROWING GRAPES IN KENYA

Grapes--where do they grow them in Kenya? Most Kenyans have no idea where the grapes in their wine or juice come from? This is surprising considering that Kenya is known for its quality agricultural produce, but in of grape production, we are a far way off.

Very few Kenyans know where grapes are grown. It has been established that the plant grows well in Naivasha, Mandera, Mombasa, and Kibwezi.

Grape is not very exacting about temperature. Consequently, it can be the grown practically everywhere in the world making it the fruit with the broadest geographical distribution.

Kenya has a high potential to be a leading producer of the grapes if its cultivation is taken seriously. We can save a lot of foreign exchange as over 90% of the fruit used in wine and juice making is imported from South Africa and other countries.

I am saying this because other farmers are doing it--right here in Kenya. If you don't believe me, just watch this two-minute video

The existing varieties can be classified into two distinct groups according to their functions

1. Table grapes- this group of grapes is used in making various meals for example as sweeteners in cakes.

2. Wine grapes-used specifically in the production of wine.

Grape Botany

The crop is a woody perennial vine having the ability, to live beyond 500 years.

There are some grape varieties; they include, French grapes also known as Vitis vinifera, American grapes- vitis labrusa and Mediterranean/ Muscatine grapes.

The most widespread grapes species is Vitis vinifera; a native of Europe grown on the world’s most land acreage.

Environmental conditions for grapes.

The crop prefers warm to hot temperatures; during fruiting, the weather must be sunny and dry.

Warm environmental temperatures during fruit ripening are vital in increasing the sugar content of berries while reducing their acidity.

This explains why grapes grown under irrigation in hot deserts or semi-deserts are sweeter than those from cold, humid areas.

The crop can grow in any soil, from sandy to heavy clays but the land should be deep and well drained.

Where the rainfall is scant, supplement it with irrigation of 500 mm of water during the cropping season. In Kenya, the cropping season is September to March.

Irrigation should be withheld after the long rains to force the crop to go dormant.

In August to September, fruit buds form thus it is essential to keep the plant healthy and well manured.

Suitable Grape scions for Kenya are as follows

Table grapes: Dodrilabi, Black rose, Italia, Muscat of Hamburg, Alphonse, LaSalle, Muscat of Alexandria, Perletta, Cardinal, Dalbiki.

Wine grapes: French colombard, Sauzao, Saungnok blank, Cabaret, Alicarte, Grenard, Semillon

Suitable Grape Rootstocks for Kenya

Most grape rootstocks are adapted to many soil conditions. The selection of a suitable rootstock is based on the following criteria;

1. Resistance to Phytophthora root rot

2. Tolerance to drought and other soil conditions like low PH

3. Adaptation to soil depth and texture

4. Resistance to crown gall Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This bacterium weakens vines by encouraging the production of large amounts of cytokinins and auxins that induce excessive cell division and elongation.

5. Adaptation to different PH which affects availability or uptake of nutrients. The scion should be adapted to high PH soils to facilitate absorption of Fe²⁺ Mn²⁺, and Zn²⁺ should be adjusted to low PH to take in Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and K⁺

6. Phylloxera (grape louse) and nematode resistance. Nematodes are vectors of grape fanleaf virus.

7. Vigor control- in cold regions vines exhibit indeterminate growth. Such growth results in the diversion of food reserves to vegetative growth at the expense of the fruit development.

Related content: 
1. How to establish a grape orchard

2. How to Earn millions From Passionfruit.