How to Care for Green Seedless Thompson Grape Plants

The Process

• 1

  Choose the location for your grapevine. Grapes can grow in sandy or rocky soil, but make sure there is good drainage; otherwise, the roots will become diseased. Choose a sunny location with plenty of air circulation to lesson the possibility of mildew attacking the plant later on.

  Prepare the area where you will plant your grapevine. Prepare the soil by mixing some compost through the dirt, but do not add fertilizer as this may scorch the roots. Dig the hole as deep as the rootstock. If you are planting more than one grapevine, dig the holes 8 feet apart.

• 2

  Purchase your grapevine from a garden center. If you are not able to plant immediately, keep the roots moist placing the plant in a bucket of water to avoid drying out. Plant your Thompson grapevine in the already-dug hole.

  Water the grapevine, soaking the entire area thoroughly. The roots of the grapevine need to be kept moist during the first month. After that you can water them at the most once a week.

• 3

  Purchase a trellis to support the vines. Place the base of your trellis behind the grapevine. Train the vines to climb the trellis, by winding them through the trellis.

• 4

  Protect your grapes from insects, birds and mildew. Once your vines produce grapes, place a net over the entire grapevine to keep the birds away. Spray your grapevine with an organic pesticide or fungicide if you have insects or mildew.

• 5

  Prune your grapevine in February when the coldest part of winter is over, before new vines start to bud. Pruning will help your grapevine grow a bigger abundance of grapes. Trim off the lateral vines, or the ones growing off to the side. Pruning off the new shoots will encourage the main vine to get stronger. While pruning, keep in mind that grapevines need air circulation to keep the leaves from mildewing, so thin out the middle of the vine if needed.