Grapevines are a fun addition to a home garden or orchard. Be sure you know how much space they will take both above and below ground before deciding to plant them. You will also need to consider what kind of grapes you want and whether they are suited to your climate. Once the choice is made, the actual planting process is relatively easy.
Select the Grapes
Determine what type of grapes you want and what their purpose will be. Some grapes are better for eating while others are more suited to juice or wine making. After determining the type of grape you want, check with your local extension office to find out which types grow best in your climate and growing season. Some varieties take 180 days to mature and your growing season may not be that long. Also check on which are more resistant to diseases that affect grapevines in your area.
Grapes of all kinds love sunny warm areas. Choose a site that gets sunshine all day, preferably with a north-south axis with emphasis on the southern exposure. The soil bed should be well-drained and loamy. Too much clay or sand means the soil will be too damp or too dry. Grapes also like acidic soils with a pH ranging between 5 and 5.5. Keep in mind that the roots of a mature grapevine will spread 6 feet out from the plant base.
Grapevines should be planted in the early spring while they are still dormant. If planting cannot be achieved for a day or more, the roots should be placed in a bucket of water for no more than 24 hours to prevent them from drying out. They can be stored in a cool dry place such as a root cellar or garage or placed in a shallow trench and buried as long as they are kept moist until planting time.
The roots should have a good two- to three-hour soak before you plant them. Dig a hole a little larger than the root system. The plant should be buried at the same depth as it was at the nursery. There will be a soil mark on the stem to determine this level. Place the plant in the hole, keeping the soil mark at ground level. Spread out the roots and gently backfill the hole. Make sure the soil around the roots is firmed down as you fill the hole in. Space multiple grapevines 6 to 8 feet apart within a row and space the rows 9 feet apart.
After planting the new grapevine, determine the strongest vine. Cut away all other vines and trim the main vine back to just two or three buds. A trellis can be added later but a 5-foot stake should be added now. As the grapevine grows, tie the young vines loosely to the stake. When vines reach 6 feet in length, it is time to put the trellis in place and train the vines to it. The new grapevines need up to 1 inch of water each week meaning they should be thoroughly watered every 7 to 10 days during dry periods.