How to Grow Grapes in Tubes

Plant grapevines in spring after the last frost in your area. This guarantees the new vines protection from cold, with long summer days for establishment. Complete your planting before adding growing tubes, as the grapevines must grow tall enough before the tubes are useful.

Find a site for the orchard where the grapevines will get full sun for eight hours every day, protection from wind and quick drainage. Ideal locations for vineyards are south-facing slopes, where drainage is quick and efficient. Make sure that any site gives you 10 square feet per grapevine.

Prepare planting sites at 8 to 12 feet, in rows at 9 to 10 feet. Dig into the top 1 foot of soil in each site and add 2 inches of quick-draining soil and 2 inches of organic compost to give the grapevines nutrition and loose, airy soil. Grapevines won't survive in thick, tight soil.

Plant grapevines in holes that are as deep and wide as their root balls, so that the tops of their root balls sit at soil level when you're done. Fill the holes in completely with soil, and pack the soil around the bases of the plants to eliminate air pockets. Prune each grapevine down to a single cane with two to five buds.

Water the entire vineyard with 6 inches of water to settle the soil around the plant roots, then add 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch around each plant. The mulch will conserve soil moisture and warmth, discourage pests and keep weeds and grasses down. Put a trellis system behind each row of grapevines, for support during growth.

Allow the grapevines to grow to 2 feet in length. Choose two to four large, healthy shoots to keep and remove all others. This time and growth allows the grapevines to attain the height they need fr the grow tubes. Tubing the grapes early, when they're shorter than the tubes, will restrict sun and may lead to weak growth.

Open the grow tubes down the sides and wrap them around the canes of the grapevines. The ends of the tubes should sit on the ground, while all shoots should reach over the top. Water and care for the grapes as usual, and train the shoots to the trellis with soft cords.

Remove the grow tubes at the end of summer to allow the grapevines to harden off for winter. Grapes that keep grow tubes on into the fall will enter the winter weakened, and may die.

Put grow tubes back on the grapes in the spring of their second year, to continue protection against animals and herbicides. Remove the tubes again in fall, and discontinue their use on this particular group of grapevines.