Position – The vine grows well in full sun and prefers dry conditions to humidity. That’s why it does well in the sometimes intense heat of South Africa. Each vine should be planted about 1.5 metres away from other plants.
Size – Your Barlinka vines will grow well on a pergola, fence or other supporting structure. It produces large bunches of black grapes.
Soil Type – The Barlinka grape grows best in light, loamy soil with a neutral pH.
Mulch – Mulch is always a good idea to keep in the moisture and stave off weeds. But, vines are often planted together with cover crops, which are complementary plants that also prevent excess evaporation, improve the structure of the soil and limit the amount of soil erosion that usually occurs on slopes.
Watering – These are drought-resistant vines that do well in hot, dry conditions. Young vines need about one to two centimetres of water once a week until they are about two years old. Once they’re in their second season and their roots are well-established, they shouldn’t need additional watering unless there is a long drought or the soil is very sandy (allowing too much water to soak away).
Fertilising – Because its roots reach deep and its season is long, this vine has many opportunities to draw its needed nutrients from the soil. In South Africa, manure tends to be adequate if additional nutrients are required.
Pruning – Prune your Barlinka vine in spring. Wood that is a year old (from the previous summer’s growth) can be cut back to have between three and five nodes per spur.
Harvesting – The best way to know when to harvest your grapes is to taste and feel them. They are ready to harvest if they are firm but not hard and taste sweet. It’s best to leave the grapes for another two or three weeks after they have developed their ripe colour. This gives them time to sweeten.
