You can grow grapes on anything. What do you think?

Linda Valentine
by Linda Valentine
My son and I were at the recycling center dropping a load of metal from our storm smashed shed when I saw a children's jungle gym sitting over in a corner of the yard. I asked if they'd sell it to me. He said he would - for two dollars. Later, he gave it to me for free because we'd brought so much metal in. Took it to my backyard and painted the whole thing in dark green paint and planted grapevines at the foot of the jungle gym. The first picture is the gym when I brought it home. The second is spring time when the grapevine is starting to grow. I don't have a picture of it in it's full glory but it's given my family and neighbors plenty of grapes!



  10 answers
  • Fir14090443 Fir14090443 on Mar 22, 2017

    Do the kids play under the canopy?

    • See 2 previous
    • Fir14090443 Fir14090443 on Mar 23, 2017

      Ha! It's good to keep those little rascals busy. Less time to get into trouble. I grew up with 5 brothers so they were always into something.

      Enjoy them.

  • Cori Widen Cori Widen on Mar 22, 2017

    This is awesome!!!

  • Shoshana Shoshana on Mar 23, 2017

    Amazing! How fun to have grapes to snack on in your yard

  • Dragon Dragon on Mar 24, 2017

    You can see the bit of the newly green metal framing. Amazing growth for the first summer. The jungle gym is nearly covered already. Children would have no business playing under the jungle gym and destroying the plants. That is no longer a jungle gym, it is a framework for growing and climbing grapes. Good grief, no long a toy! Would have loved to see the grapes in their glory!

  • Margie Margie on Mar 25, 2017

    It takes several seasons for grapes to bear fruit. Be patient.

    • Linda Valentine Linda Valentine on Mar 25, 2017

      These pics were from some years ago (2010 maybe?) and actually I expected maybe three years to really getting it going but it produced quicker than I thought. It's loaded every year which is why so many friends and neighbors get lots of grapes.

  • Cristine Meixner Cristine Meixner on Mar 26, 2017

    Linda, what is your USDA growing zone? I would like to try this but am in zone 3. Thank you.

    • Linda Valentine Linda Valentine on Mar 26, 2017

      I was in Zone 5. The plant zones have changed and my eyesight has gotten bad - tried to look it up - can't see the new zones. However, this was in Spokane, WA -( lots of snow) and I have a friend in Regina, Sask, Canada (way up north) and we both grow great grapes. Don't see why you can't grow them in Lake Pleasant, NY. May you grow a ton of grapes!!

  • Cristine Meixner Cristine Meixner on Mar 26, 2017

    Thank you so very much!


  • Mar7759234 Mar7759234 on Mar 27, 2017

    I live in high mountain area in New Mexico. I started grapes about 30 years ago from cuttings. zone 3-4.

  • Claude Claude on Mar 27, 2017

    I'm on the east zone 5 and yes, we can grow grapes but theycan get more powdery mildew and fungal things here so you have to keep watching them for signs.

    i love when people re purpose items like that! Well done.

  • How cool! Great share. I do not have room now, saving and pinning for the future, many thanks! 👍