What Month Should I Plant Grapevines?

Bare Root Stock

• Grapevine bare root stock is dormant plant stock, ready for planting in the spring. Plant bare root stock as soon as you make the purchase. If you must wait a few days before planting, keep the roots submerged in water so they do not dry out and kill the vines. Dig the hole deep enough to plant the grapes at the same level they were planted in the nursery.

Fall Planting

• You can plant grapevines in the very early fall so the plant can establish a healthy root system prior to cold weather. In mild climates, fall planting keeps the root system healthier because the hot sun of summer dries out the soil and damages new roots. However, late fall planting often results in a loss of the grapevines due to natural ground heaving during the winter.

Spring Planting

• Spring planting is best for grapevines, giving them a chance to develop a strong root system and also break the vines out of dormancy. Grapevines produce grapes on two-year-old canes. Canes grown during the summer will produce grapes the following year. Spring planting also gives you the opportunity to train the growing vines to the trellis system you choose.

Cuttings

• Cuttings taken during the fall and winter are not planted until the following spring, when they are rooted. However, you must allow the cuttings to grow out for a season until you plant the new vines in the vineyard. Once the cuttings are mature enough for vineyard planting, move the grapevines into their permanent home in the spring. Install the trellis system first so you do not disturb the new root system after planting the vines.