As landscape plants, grapes are winners. They are fast growing, with large, heart-shaped leaves; clusters of fruit in colors ranging from yellow to dark purple; and beautiful fall color. They can be trained along fences and paths, and over pergolas and arbors. Their fruit can be eaten fresh from the vine or turned into jams, jellies, raisins, juices, and wine.

Grapes can be grown throughout most of the continental United States as well as southern Canada; there are even varieties that are grown in parts of Alaska and Hawaii. Table grapes are more popular for home gardens because they offer more versatility than wine grapes, and some can be used to produce a sweet wine.

Matching the variety to your growing conditions is key. American grapes are very disease-resistant and the best choice for cold-winter areas; the most well-known variety is Concord. European grapes, such as Thompson Seedless, grow in mild-winter areas of California and Arizona, though with winter protection they can be grown in more marginal areas. European grapes tend to be the table grapes you find in grocery stores as well as the grapes used for most commercial wine production. American hybrid grapes, such as Golden Muscat and Reliance, can be almost as hardy as their American grape parents, but their fruit is more like that of European grapes. Most all of these grapes are self-fertilizing.

In areas of the Deep South where temperatures stay above 10 degrees F., muscadine grapes such as Scuppernong are the best choice. Check if your variety is self-fertilizing, as many require a pollinator.

While the plant itself grows quickly, it takes several years before it produces a full crop, and many growers recommend not letting any grapes develop until the third summer after planting. In the meantime, you'll be shaping the plant in both summer and winter to encourage a pleasing--and productive--final form. The good news is that grapes can last for decades, with many producing for well over a century.