How to Grow Grapes in Your Home Garden

Grapes are berries that grow in clusters on grapevines of the Vitis genus in the Vitaceae family. These small, oval fruits contain skin, flesh, and seeds that producers meticulously cultivate for fruit, juice-making, and wine-making. (However, many varieties are seedless grapes, producing tiny, edible cores or none at all.) The best types of grapes for home gardens include American, European, and French-American grape varieties.

After winter's final frost, grape growers should plant vines in the early spring. Grape plants are typically purchased as bare root vines, meaning they are ready to go. Grapes grow best in USDA hardiness zones four through ten. Plant in a location preferably with full sun, and the growing season will follow into the summertime.

Starting with a ready-to-go dormant vine is the easiest way to grow your grapes. Purchase vines at your local nursery, then follow these steps:

1. 1. Soak the roots. Before planting, you’ll want to soak the plant roots in water for a few hours. You can do this in a large bucket or wheel barrel. Soaking the roots will prevent the grapevine from drying out, especially if you are planting in dry, rocky terrain.
2. 2. Prep the soil. Plant grapevines in well-draining soil that’s neutral or just slightly acidic. Use organic matter and fertilizer if your soil needs additional nutrients.
3. 3. Ready the planting hole. Dig a planting hole one foot deep and one foot wide, and add four inches of topsoil. Place your vine in deep enough to cover the bottom of the root with up to six inches of soil. Do not press the soil down after layering it in.
4. 4. Space out your vines. Ensure your plant is in an area with good air circulation, and if you are planting multiple vines, space them eight feet apart to encourage growth.
5. 5. Plant in a place with full sun. Your grape plant will need lots of morning and afternoon sun; some shade later in the day will be fine. Summer may bring neighboring plant life, so be sure new plants do not shade your vines.
6. 6. Set up a structure that promotes vertical growth. Place a form of support, like stakes or a trellis, at the base of your planted vine to allow the plant to cling to a structure as it ascends. These structures allow for better airflow and can help mitigate the risk of disease.
7. 7. Water regularly. Water immediately after planting, and provide your vines with an inch of water per week. Soon, the young vines will grow tall and strong. You can also sprinkle mulch around your plant’s base to assist with water retention.
8. 8. Prune your grapes. Pruning grapes strengthens the root systems and promotes the growth of new shoots. Old canes or vine offshoots will not produce fruit, so cut some of these canes back to engender new growth and fruiting. Let your tallest cane reach the top of your stake or trellis. Then, after producing fruit, prune it in the late winter, just before the growing season restarts. Cut back these just-fruitful canes to half a dozen buds.

The harvesting season for grapes falls between August to October in the Northern hemisphere.
Pick your fruit so you can have table grapes or grapes for making wine or jelly:

1. 1. Examine: Grapes should look rich in color and full in shape. After they mature, grapes will have slightly firm skin that still has some give to it.
2. 2. Handpick: Grapes will hold on tightly to the vines, but you should still be able to tug at individual grapes or a cluster by hand without much difficulty.
3. 3. Taste test: The grapes should be sweet with just a little bit of a tart flavoring. Try grapes at different areas of your trellis; some may be riper or sweeter based on location and sunlight.
4. 4. Prep: Gently rinse grapes with cool water, dry your grapes, and let them sit out on the counter for a few days, or refrigerate them in an airtight bag in the crisper drawer to keep them longer.

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