How to Grow Grapes
Learning how to grow grapes is not complicated but don’t be disappointed if you have to wait a couple of years before having a good harvest. Grapes do need quite a bit of care, and the pruning needs to been done at the right time when the plant is dormant. You can grow some kind of grapes just about across all of North America, although in areas with hard winters you will have to choose a fast-growing and hardy variety.
You can buy healthy plants from a gardening store or you can grow your own from cuttings if you have a friend or neighbor with a backyard vineyard. When purchasing plants it is best to get ones that are at least one year old. Grapes like lots of sun so be sure to put them into the ground in an area that will receive abundant sunshine. If you follow the instructions on how to grow grapes, you will need to prepare the soil. Grapes like acidic soil with a pH in the 5 to 5.5 range--loam that is well-drained is perfect. Grapes don’t like soil that is mostly sand or soil that is of the clay-type.
Some grapes have a very long growing season so check with your local extension service or garden supply store as to what kinds of grapes grow best in your area. There are many kinds of grapes for both short and long growing seasons though the normal season would be approximately 140-180 days. It also depends on what you want to do with your grapes as to what varieties to plant. Some people grow specifically for winemaking while others grow to have fresh, tasty fruit or to make juice.
When you get your grape plants, put them into the ground between 5 and 8 feet apart, and leave at least 8-12 feet between rows. Grapes spread out and thus can take up quite a lot of room--some grapes will extend their roots over time as far as forty feet below the soil. Don’t plant near a garden or other plants--give grapes their own space and lots of room to grow.
Part of learning how to grow grapes is learning how to build trellises and how to prune the plants. Because grapes grow on climbing vines, it is necessary to give them plenty of support. There are many different kinds of trellises--some of the strongest use nine to twelve gauge wire attached to hefty four feet by four inch wooden poles. You will also need to prune the vines every winter when the plants are dormant. There are several ways to do this but one of the most popular is Kniffen four-cane method. This method involves keeping four canes on each plant, two to a side. Older canes should be lopped off. The canes that are kept should be about the same size diameter as a pencil and have between 10 and 20 buds. Renewal spurs also have to be left--at least four on each arm of the plant with two buds each.
As you learn more and more about how to grow grapes, you will be surprised at how much fun it is, and you will be so proud when you can have friends over and say, “I grew these grapes,” or “taste this wine I made from my homegrown grapes.” They will be quite impressed with your personal little vineyard.