How Long Do Grape Plants Take to Mature?

Foliage Growth

• A recently planted grapevine will rapidly send out shoots and begin to fill in with foliage. A new grapevine can easily grow 20 or 25 feet in its first season, but should be discouraged from doing so by pruning the vine back to two main arms or branches from the trunk. A vine that puts too much energy into above-ground growth is a vine that is neglecting its root system. If your vine is to survive its first winter, it will need a trunk thick enough to prevent snapping in snow, as well as a well-developed root system.

Fruit Production

• Grapes grow on second-year growth on your vine. The first season you may see the odd bunch or two begin forming in the spring. Snip off those bunches to discourage your vine from fruiting too early, and again neglecting its root systems. A grapevine can appear mature, meaning having a thick woody stem and dense foliage, in its first season; however, it should nevertheless be discouraged from fruiting until at least the second and ideally the third season.

Disease

• A grapevine that is affected by a disease, such as black grape rot, may need to be pruned back to the ground. After any such radical pruning, the clock should be reset with regards to your vine's maturation. A vine that has had to be pruned back to its cordons or trunk due to disease should be discouraged from fruiting in the following year, just as if the vine was a new planting.

Regional Variation

• In colder climates and zones, extra time should be allowed for vine maturation. In areas with very harsh winters, such as Michigan, grapevines should be allowed an extra season to dedicate to root system growth and maturation before being encouraged to fruit. A well-matured vine will provide fruit for many years to come, so a little extra effort and patience now will pay dividends later.