Grape Growing Made Easy (5 Steps to Grow Grapes) 

Have you ever fantasized about plucking enormous bunches of delicious, sun-warmed grapes from your backyard vines? Good for you, grape growing is much simpler than you might think. Here’s how you confidently grow grapes.

You can grow grapes anywhere in the continental United States, specifically in USDA zones 4 through 10. Grapes grow in your garden just as easily as any other crop, provided you have decent soil, enough space, and are willing to give them a little annual pruning.

The keys to success are picking the correct types that will grow and produce well in your area (we’ve mentioned some of our favorite varieties) and deciding what kind of crop you want to cultivate (grow for eating or make wine). Once you have this under control, proceed with the planting, caring for, and harvesting instructions below. Delicious fruits should be ready for harvesting in the third or fourth year, in the late summer or early fall.

Check out more resources for organic gardening here!

Five Simple Steps for Grape Growing  

Decide Where to Plant Your Grapes

You need a sizable, sunny, open area with decent soil. When planted horizontally in rows or vertically on a trellis or arbor, grapes require between 50 and 100 square feet per vine, seven to eight hours of direct sunlight daily, and about 8 feet between rows. While they grow in various soils, they thrive in well-drained, rich, organic soil that is deeply blended with adequate compost or soil conditioner (grapes cannot tolerate moist feet). The presence of air circulation on all sides protects against fungi-related illnesses like powdery mildew.

Chose the Best Variety of Grapes 

American, European, and Muscadine grapes are the three main varieties, plus there are many hybrids (like our favorite Zestful grapes) created by crossing American and European varietals.

American (Vitis labrusca) The most cold-hardy grapes are American grapes, which grow well in short-season growing regions like the Northeast (zones 4-7). Table grapes, juices, and jellies are the most typical uses for these.

European (Vitis vinifera): These grapes prefer a climate more like the Mediterranean (zones 7–10) with a longer growing season. Depending on the variety, these are used as table grapes or winemaking.

Muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia): Native to North America, muscadine grapes thrive in the humid South (zones 7-9). You can make wine or use these grapes for the table.

Choose wisely based on your USDA zone. While some kinds do better in temperate climates, some do better in heat. For advice on the best types for your specific needs and location, speak with your neighborhood Independent Garden Center.

Here are a handful of our top European, American, and hybrid table grape varietals.

Plant Your Grape Vine 

You do not need a special support system for table grapes. However, moving them off the ground and onto a trellis is a good idea so that you may more easily prune and harvest them. Wine grapes need a horizontal support system that allows you to train them and provide them with the support they require. You can plant your grapevines in the early winter in USDA Zones 7 and above; in colder climates, you should wait until the early spring. Dig a planting hole approximately two feet deep and broad, and enrich it with compost because grapevines have deep roots extending up to 15 feet.

What Size Vineyard Should I Plant?

Mature table grapes can yield 15 to 30 pounds per vine. Only plant the amount of grapes you have room for!

About 12 pounds of mature wine grapes are produced on each vine, and it takes 40 pounds to produce 12 bottles. You will want many vines if you intend to make wine.

Maintain and Care For Your Grape Vines 

It is crucial to maintain a pruning schedule to remove older growth and guarantee that new growth forms because grapes only produce a year-old growth. Not trimming firmly enough is the most frequent error while pruning grapes. You will remove more plant material than you leave behind once a grapevine has grown to full maturity.

Depending on your garden objectives and the support structure you intend to use, there are a few different ways to train grapes.

Ways to Train Your Grapes

• Vineyard style: The traditional system, which consists of two wires stretched between posts, has the advantage of keeping your grapes in an easy-to-harvest location and only needs a small area, such as along a fence or wall. One central stem and a one-year-old cane with around eight buds spreading horizontally on each wire make up this technique.
• Use a trellis: This is a wonderful decorative method to incorporate culinary plants. Grapes can be used to cover pergolas with temporary shade or to be trained onto arches. While unwinding on your patio, it would be beautiful to reach up and grab a snack! Here’s a cheap trellis that works great for a small backyard vine!

Were you looking for a less formal, easier approach? Here are some tips for managing your grape growing without a professional! Prune your grapes in the late winter or early spring. Only leave two things on your grapevine after pruning: a permanent main trunk or trunks and a year-old growth. There can be a lot of growth from the previous year, which you won’t want to keep! Remove any unnecessary older wood, thin out, and prune the year-old wood; you may leave two to eight buds per cane.

If the vines are becoming a little wilder than you would like, prune the plants in the summer. To prevent powdery mildew, thinning can also assist the fruit in receiving more sunlight and more ventilation. If the fruit appears to be growing in a lot of shade, you may try to thin it out.

Some common challenges with grape growing: 

The most prevalent disease that affects grape growing is powdery mildew! This is managed by increasing air circulation and spraying in the spring. Birds? Consider using netting to cover.

Make sure you have enough pollinators to product a healthy harvest. I recommend planting a few of these flowers to improve the amount of pollinators in your garden.

Fertilize Your Grapes 

Generally speaking, grapevines don’t need a lot of fertilizer, so use it sparingly. Apply eight to ten ounces of 10-10-10 or 10-20-20 fertilizer in the early spring. Add the proper amount of nutrients to the soil at the base of your grapes in the early spring to enable them to thrive and bear fruit every year. I recommend this fertilizer which slowly releases it nutrients into the ground!

You can plant a ton of other fruits on your homestead (or in your yard). Here are my top recommendations!