Grape Vines

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When to Plant Grape Vines Spring is the best time to plant grape vines. However most of the year will work for planting grapes if you use some common sense. Summer planting is fine if you compensate with plenty of water to help your grape plant establish and handle the heat. Muscadine and Scuppernong grape vines are particularly heat tolerant. Cool region gardeners should plant at least 6 to 8 weeks prior to the ground freezing to give grapevines some time to establish their roots before winter. How to Plant Grape Vines Be sure your climate and planting site is appropriate for your grapevine prior to purchasing it. Water your potted plant well prior to planting. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball. Place your grape vine plant in the hole. In order to avoid planting too deep the root ball should be slightly higher than your soil line. Next, backfill the soil and tamp it down with your hands to remove air pockets. Water deeply and thoroughly saturate the soil. Water deeply once per day for the first week. Then 2 to 3 times per week for the next couple weeks. You should water deeply at least once weekly for the first 2 to 3 months while your grapevine is establishing. How to Harvest Grapes Pick muscadine and other grapes when they are ripe. Grapes do not ripen after they are picked from the vine so do not pick too early. Taste is the best indicator of ripeness. So try a couple before harvesting. When the grapes are sweet and yummy start picking! When to Prune Grape Vines Prune grape vines in late winter or early spring when they are dormant for best results. Minor grape vine trimming can be done any time of the year. How to Prune Grape Vines Scuppernong and muscadine grape vines can be trained to have one trunk and 2 “arm” branches secured to a trellis other upright structure. After your grape vine has been growing for about one year, select the sturdiest shoot and trim off the others. Allow the top 2 buds to form the arm branches and pinch back any side sh