THE FATE OF GRAPE VINES.

It used to be two grape vines in Tanah Merah, our former house. They had to endure  9 hour long distance travel. One died, and the other survived. The sole survivor is still in the same large pot, growing up steadily. It is enjoying  the new place and weather. It has interesting growing habit, sending out Y-tendrils, and the moment it touches something solid, it will hold and wind slowly. Thereafter the tendril gets bigger and stronger  changing its colour from light green to red.  It behaves almost a snake holding on to victims, tightening up, squeezing out every little bit of air and energy..

the fate of grape vine 

pohon anggur

Other plants like cucumber and  bitter gourd display different styles, tendrils seem to grab and wind things quicker. It is understandable because their life-span is short, so they have to make full of the short time available to go high up, kiss the sun and produce flowers and fruits preparing for the next generation. Grape vine can take it's own sweet time for the fact that it is programmed to last for decades.......

grape vine: upper part against red brick column

Grape vine: tendrils red in colour

grape vine: the bottom part and the pot.

Grape vine is said to last for over 120 years. After 20 years, vines start to produce smaller grapes. In some places, vines are kept for 400 years, not as productive as young vines, but definitely a vintage, a heritage to pass to the next generation. My concern now is  when would the first set of flowers and grapes be....

bangchik and kakdah

pasir gudang, JOHOR

Growing grapevines in Malaysia.

Through gardening connections, we ended up at a house somewhere in Tanah Merah with lots of  grapevines. Mr M was a pleasant guy indeed. We talked, discussed, and brought home 2 seedlings at a price of RM 7.50 each. We will go back for more since we had promised Rosiah, my younger sister and Mother in Law 5 seedlings each. Both of them must be busy right now, planning where to grow and getting woods for trellis. Within a month, they should be having the first grapevines in their whole life. I told them, not until I had gathered enough info about grapevines.

Another friend, Mi staying nearby, has 2 plants, one died and another still growing. A friend  WanZ mentioned about a retired teacher in Machang having an orchard of grapes. At least where I live, growing grapes is not really rare.

I hope the two plants will be kind to both of us..., grow healthy, and bear fruits within a year... I have created a separate blog just to handle grapevine updates, written in our own language. Non Malay speaking readers  can still follow using Google translator.

anggur / grapes:

an empty pot ready to be filled up with sand

anggur/grape:  another pot with two  little plants close by 

anggur / grape: the leaves look healthy. Mr M mentioned that the fruits would be reddish black. It is going to be a very long wait.

I saw Puteri Chandan with grapevines.., anybody else grow grapevines?



bangchik and kakdah

Tanah Merah, Kelantan.