How to Grow a Grape Vine From a Seed

Purchase grape seeds from a nursery or gather them from fallen grapes under the bottoms of growing vines. Seeds saved from grocery store produce seldom germinate.

Fold two or three paper towels in half and hold them under cool running water. Squeeze the excess water from the towels and lay them flat on a firm surface, such as a countertop. Place your seeds on top of the damp paper towels. Loosely fold the damp towels around the grape seeds and place them in a plastic sandwich bag. Put the sandwich bag in a small paper sack.

Set a thermometer in your refrigerator. Move it around, placing it in different areas of the refrigerator until you find a location that maintains a temperature near 37 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the ideal temperature for stratifying grape seeds. Place the paper bag with the seeds into your refrigerator in the area that is around 37 degrees Fahrenheit.

Check the amount of moisture in the bag about once each month, adding a slight mist of water to dampen paper towels that feel slightly dry. Do not handle the seeds or disturb them. Allow the seeds to remain in your refrigerator for about three to five months to allow adequate time for stratification.

Fill biodegradable seed pots with a sterile potting soil. Scatter five to eight seeds over the tops of each pot. Gently pat the seeds, barely pressing them into the surface of the soil. Grape seeds require light to germinate. Keep the soil in the pots evenly damp, misting the surface with a fine spray of water whenever it shows signs of slight dryness.

Thin out your seedlings once they reach a height around 2 inches, allowing only the strongest one to remain in each seed pot. Transplant the seedlings into your garden after they produce a network of roots and at least five or six young leaves. Depending on your variety of grapes, this can take several months.

Transplant the seedlings into well-drained garden soil, keeping the surface of the root ball level with the surrounding soil. Continue to keep the soil near the roots slightly damp to ensure adequate amounts of moisture for healthy growth.