How Early Can You Plant Grapevines?

Season

• Start your grapevines outside when the frost lifts. These vines require a long growing season to establish for winter and survive. The Ohio State University Extension website notes that planting grapes too early puts them at risk during cold weather, rain and frost. Wait until temperatures rise to at least 55 degrees F.

Site and Space

• Choose the right grape cultivar for your region, in regard to hardiness and length of growing season. Put the grapes in a site that gets full sun all day, good drainage and consistent air movement. Purdue University's website suggests that south-facing slopes provide ideal drainage, sun and circulation for vineyards, and protect the grapes from frosts in winter. Set aside 12 to 20 feet of space in the row for each grapevine, depending on cultivar. Crowded grape planting leads to disease and restricted growth, and may also lead to lack of fruiting.

Soil, Nutrition, Mulch

• If you plant grapevines early, amend the soil to warm, dry and nourish it before planting. Dig 3 to 4 inches of organic compost into the top 12 inches of soil in any planting site. This mixing aerates and loosens the soil for drainage and growth, while compost adds long-term nutrition and moisture retention. Mulch the soil around the grapes with 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch to keep the vines warm and moist, and to protect them from weed growth.

Maturity and Harvest

• Grapevines take three years to mature and start bearing fruit, so plant the vineyard in advance of any need. Full crops appear in fourth and fifth years. Different grape cultivars produce their fruit at different times in the season, from midsummer to late summer and fall.