How to Plant & Care for Grapevines

Locate a well-draining planting site in the southern side of your yard with full sunlight exposure and pH between 5.0 and 6.0. Amend the soil six months prior to planting. Remove stones, weeds and plant debris from the desired planting site. Till the soil to a depth of 8 to 12 inches. Add shovelfuls of organic compost or manure to the soil and mix well.

Plant the selected variety of grapes in early spring. Soak the roots of the grapevines in water two to three hours before planting. Dig a hole 2 to 3 feet deep and twice as wide for each plant. Lower a grapevine into a hole so it falls at the same level as its nursery container. Spread its roots in all directions and back fill to cover the roots with soil.

Tamp the soil at the roots to remove air pockets. Make sure the soil is level with the surrounding. Plant multiple grapevines 8 feet apart in a row. Space rows 8 to 10 feet apart.

Cut the strongest cane of each grapevine back to three buds and remove the remaining canes. Each bud develops into a cane.

Water the grapevines to provide each plant 1 inch of water per week. Feed the plants 10 lbs. of 10-6-4 fertilizer per 100 feet of row two weeks after planting. Apply the same amount of fertilizer each year in spring, before new growth. Alternatively, feed each plant 1 lb. of the fertilizer.

Spread 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch over the base of the grapevine to deter weeds and keep roots cool. Space the mulch 4 inches from the stem to prevent direct contact.

Insert a 6-foot-tall wooden stake into the soil, 4 to 6 inches from each grapevine. Tie growing shoots of the plant loosely to the stake to train it to climb upward.

Install a 7-foot post 1 foot in the ground. Install a second identical post 8 feet apart. Extend high-tensile wire between the two parallel posts, 36 and 60 inches above the ground. When the growing grapevine reaches the top of the wooden stake, train it along the lower trellis wire, and then the upper trellis wire. Cut shoots along the lower wire down to two buds, and secure with ties. Clip off hoots between the two horizontal wires so the mature vine is comprised of four canes with 10 to 12 buds each.

Spread a net over the grapevines to protect the growing fruit from birds. Snip off old and damaged wood and foliage from the vines. Collect and discard clippings to prevent fungal disease.