Grow Grapes from Seeds

Have you ever wanted to grow your own grapes? Grapevines are both beautiful and useful, and are one of the oldest plants to be cultivated. Grapes are typically reproduced from cuttings or grafts; however, if you are determined (it's hard!) and patient (it takes a long time!), you can grow grapes from seeds. Read on to learn how to do it.

Steps

Selecting Your Grape Seeds

  1. Choose the right variety. There are thousands of grape varieties in the world. For the greatest success in growing grapes, choose the variety that will work best for you. Do some research on grape varieties, while keeping the following in mind:[1]
    • Your reasons for growing grapes. You may want to eat the fruit, make jam, make wine, or just add the beauty of grapevines to your yard. Find out which varieties are best for your intended purpose.
    • Your climate conditions. Different varieties of grapes are better suited to certain geographic areas and Extend Your Gardening Season. Learn about grapes that are known to perform well in your area.
  2. Obtain the grape seeds. Once you identify the variety of grapes you want to grow, get your seeds. You can get them from grapes you've purchased, from a nursery, from your yard's wild grapevines (in some areas), or from another gardener.
  3. Ensure the seeds are viable. Examine the seeds to make sure they are healthy and in good condition. Squeeze the seed gently between two fingers. A healthy seed is firm to the touch.[2]
    • Look at the seed's color. In a healthy grape seed, you will be able to see a pale gray or white endosperm under the seed coat.
    • Put them in water. Healthy, viable seeds will sink when placed in water. Discard any seeds that float.

Readying Your Seeds for Growth

  1. Prepare the seeds. Take the viable seeds and wash them thoroughly to remove any pulp or other matter. Soak them in a small amount of distilled water for up to 24 hours.[3]
  2. Stratify your seeds. Many seeds require a period of cold, moist conditions to begin the germination process. In nature, this is achieved when seeds sit in the ground over the winter. You can mimic these conditions through the process of stratification. For grape seeds, the best time to begin stratification is in December (the northern hemisphere winter).[4]
    • Prepare a bed for your seeds. Fill an airtight bag or other capsule with a soft medium like wet paper towels or sand, vermiculite or peat moss that has been dampened. Peat moss is the best choice for grape seeds because its anti-fungal properties will help eliminate seed-damaging mold.
    • Tuck the seeds into the bed. Cover them with about 1/2" (1.25 cm) of growing medium.
    • Refrigerate the seeds. The ideal temperature for stratification is a steady 35-40 ºF (1-3 ºC), so the refrigerator is a good place for this process. Keep the seeds refrigerated for two to three months. Do not allow them to freeze.
  3. Plant your seeds. In early spring, remove the seeds from the refrigerator and plant them in pots filled with good soil. Plant seeds individually in small pots, or in larger pots with at least 1 1/2" (3.8 cm) between them.[5]
    • Make sure your seeds stay warm enough. To properly germinate, the seeds need daytime temperatures of at least 70ºF (20ºC) and nighttime temperatures around 60ºF (15ºC). Use a greenhouse or warming mats to keep your seeds at the correct temperature.
    • Keep the soil moist but not too wet. Mist the surface with a fine spray of water when it starts to look dry.
    • Check for growth. Grape seeds typically take between 2-8 weeks to sprout.
  4. Transplant your seedlings. When your seedlings have grown to about 3" (8 cm), transplant them to larger pots. For the healthiest plants, keep your seedlings indoors until they have reached a height of 12" (30 cm), have a good network of roots and have at least 5-6 leaves.

Moving Your Grapevines Outdoors

  1. Plant your grapevines in the ground. To thrive, grapevines need the right amount of sun, proper drainage and a form of support.[1]
    • Choose the right location. Grapes need 7-8 hours of full sun daily for best results.
    • Prepare your soil. Grapes require well drained soil. If you have clay or other poorly drained soil, augment it with decomposed compost, sand or other soil amendments to increase drainage. Alternatively, use a raised bed filled with a good sandy loam mixed with compost.
    • Space your plants about 8' (2.5 m) apart to allow for growth.
  2. Properly support your grapes. Grapevines need a Put up a Trellis or arbor for proper support. The first year, when your plants are still small, stakes will be sufficient to support them and keep them off the ground. As they grow, you will need to train them to the trellis or arbor. Tie the tip of the shoots to the wire, and allow it to grow along the wire.[6]
  3. Take proper care of your plants, and prepare to wait. Grapevines take up to three years to start producing fruit. During that time, proper care and training of your plants is essential for the best fruit yield.[7]
    • Year One: Watch for growth. Choose the strongest three shoots on the plant and allow those to grow. Pinch off all others. The three remaining shoots will grow stronger and more vigorous.
    • Year Two: Fertilize using a balance fertilizer. Remove flower clusters as they emerge; allowing the vine to fruit this early will deplete its energy. Remove any buds or shoots that grow below the three main ones you selected the prior year. Prune properly. Loosely tie long shoots to the arbor or trellis.
    • Year Three: Continue fertilizing and removing low buds and shoots. During this year, you can allow a few flower clusters to remain and produce a small crop of grapes.
    • Year Four and Later: Continue fertilizing and pruning. This year and thereafter, you can let all the flower clusters fruit if you wish.


Tips

  • Don't expect your seeds to yield the exact type of grapes they came from. You might be surprised at the result!
  • Grape seeds can be held in stratification for a long time (even years), as the seeds will remain dormant in these conditions.
  • If your seeds do not sprout on your first try, return them to stratification and try again the next season.
  • If you are unsure how to train and prune your grapevines, talk to a horticulturist or nursery to get help.

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/growing_table_grapes_ec1639_may_2011.pdf
  2. ↑ http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/propagation/how-to-know-if-garden-seed-is-viable
  3. ↑ http://www.finegardening.com/jump-start-your-seeds
  4. ↑ http://www.hort.cornell.edu/reisch/grapegenetics/breeding/crossing3.html
  5. ↑ https://www.planetnatural.com/growing-grapes/
  6. ↑ https://extension.umaine.edu/highmoor/research/growing-grapes-in-maine/
  7. ↑ http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/fruit/growing-grapes-for-home-use/

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