About Grapes
Grapes are fruits that come in many varieties and are used in a wide range of popular foods such as jams, jellies and wine. Grapes are highly packed with nutrients and antioxidants. The phytonutrient resveratrol present in grapes is believed to be good for the heart.
The two main types of grapes are white and red grapes under which more categories tend to branch out:
Red grapes:
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Pinot Noir
• Syrah
• Zinfandel
White grapes:
• Riesling
• Silvaner
• Kerner
• Muller Thurgau
• Bacchus
• Scheurbe
• Gutedel
• Ortega
• Chardonnay
The dark blue and purple grape is a native of North America. They are often used as table grapes, wine grapes, and juice grapes. They are also used to make jellies, pies and soft drinks.
Grapes are popular throughout the world. Approximately 72 million tons of grapes are grown annually around the world. Grapes have been grown for thousands of years in the Middle East and the Mediterranean regions. Presently grapes are grown in most parts of the world. Largest grape producing countries are Spain, France, Italy, Turkey and the United States.
In the US, grapes are the sixth largest crop to be grown. All the 50 states produce the fruit, with California, Washington, and New York taking the lead. According to a report in 2014, the US had approximately 1 million acres of grapes growing land and had harvest 7 million tons of the fruit in that year.
Grapes grow on vines. Good climate and proper drainage is essential for growing grapes. Some grapes are easy to grow during the mild winter season and some during summer. The vines become dormant after 3 years and then comes the time to prune them. After some time the buds start to appear and the grape vines self-pollinate. The grape buds then transform into full delicious fruit and are ready to be harvested.
Amita Vadlamudi is a blogger interested in a wide variety of subjects, including, gardening and horticulture. How various crops are grown throughout the world is also an item of interest to Amita Vadlamudi.
