Growing Wine Grapes in Texas

Examine your landscape to determine the best location for your small vineyard. Find an area along the upper side of a slope, or a flat area that sheds water. Avoid chilly areas along the bottoms of hills and depressions that retain water after a heavy Texas rainfall.

Test the soil in your vineyard site with a basic soil test to determine the pH level of your existing soil. Many areas of Texas contain soils with high alkalinity and salinity. Follow the instructions on your soil test results to adjust the pH level of your soil. Mix your soil amendments into your existing soil with a garden tiller, combining and loosening the medium to form a well-drained composition.

Plant your wine grapes about 8 feet apart in rows spaced 12 feet from each other. Trim the bare roots of your new plants prior to setting them in the ground. Cut down the roots to allow 1 or 2 inches to remain. Remove all but the strongest cane on each of your plants. Cut the strongest cane back to just two buds. Place the roots in a bucket of water until ready to plant in your vineyard. Set your rootballs in holes that measure twice the width of the roots. Firmly pack the soil around the new plants.

Irrigate the vines in your vineyard. Even areas of Texas that receive plenty of rainfall, such as the southern and eastern portions of the state, often experience very dry summers. Apply at least 1 inch of water per week to the bases of each plant.

Fertilize your vines if they appear weak or unhealthy. Although wine grapes in Texas seldom require supplemental feeding, a springtime application of nitrogen fertilizer can help provide extra nutrients and produce vigorous growth in struggling plants.