How to Grow Grapes in Mostly Shade

Select a variety of grape that is hardy to your climate. Determine your zone on the USDA hardiness zone map. Choose a variety of grape that has been approved for your zone.

Select the area in your yard that receives the most amount of sunlight. Choose a planting site that has well-draining soil and good air circulation, especially if the area receives less than six hours of sunlight. Mix compost into the soil at a rate of one part compost to every one part of original soil. Use a shovel or rake to thoroughly incorporate the compost.

Dig a hole twice as wide and equal in depth to the grape plant's root ball in the spring. Place the root ball gently into the bottom of the hole. Back fill the hole and tamp the soil firmly but gently around the root ball. Water deeply around the root ball immediately after planting.

Apply an all purpose fertilizer two weeks after planting. Apply the fertilizer at a rate of one pound per plant. Spread the fertilizer in a ring, six inches from the trunk of the plant. Water the fertilizer in thoroughly to activate it. Re-apply the fertilizer annually in the spring once the leaves start to appear.

Water your grape plant only when the soil becomes dry. Avoid overwatering your grape plants growing in mostly shady areas because it will increase the risk of disease. Apply the water directly to the ground around the base of the grape plant during the morning hours. Do not get the leaves or stems of your grape vine wet.

Insert a trellis or arbor behind your grape plant during the first year of growth. Tie the stronger vines to the trellis or arbor using twist ties or small lengths of twine. Wrap the tie around the vine tight enough to hold it in place, but loose enough to allow it to grow thicker without the tie cutting it off.

Prune any damaged or diseased branches with pruning shears as soon as you spot them. Sterilize the shears after each cut to avoid spreading the disease. Remove any weak vines during the first year of growth. Prune your grape vine each year in the spring while the plant is still dormant but after severe temperatures have passed. Remove weak, damaged or unsightly branches each time you prune. Thin the amount of vines on the grape plant by 1/3 to promote good air circulation between the leaves.

Spray new foliage in the spring with a fungicide as a preventative measure against powdery mildew and black rot. Read all directions and warnings on the fungicides label before use. Check often throughout the growing season for white spots or powder on the leaves or black spots on the leaves or canes as these are signs of disease. Apply a fungicide according to package directions if any of these symptoms are spotted.