DIY Grape Propagating Frame

Grapevines grow throughout the country in different varieties and cultivars, providing homeowners and vineyard managers alike charming, rustic foliage and sweet summer or fall harvests. Grapevines grow best from healthy nursery stock but also propagate from cuttings. These cuttings require rich soil, adequate moisture and protection from cold temperatures. Take cuttings in late winter to early spring and build a cold frame around them to protect against spring frosts.

Organic compost
Garden fork
Potting soil
PVC pipe (1/2-inch, 10-foot lengths)
Plastic sheeting
Scissors
Landscape staples

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare a propagating site in a spot with full sunshine, good drainage and air movement. The propagating frame cannot protect the grapevines from standing water or still air.
- 2
  Amend the soil for propagation. Dig into the top 10 inches of soil in a 5-by-5 foot site and loosen the soil. Incorporate 3 to 4 inches of organic compost and 3 to 4 inches of potting soil into the existing soil for nourishment. Grape cuttings do best in loose, moist soil, which allows for best rooting.
- 3
  Use 10-foot-long pieces of 1/2-inch PVC pipe for the framework of the structure. Push one end of the PVC pipe into a corner of the site then bend the pipe toward the opposite corner. Push the other end of the pipe into the opposite corner to build an arch. Repeat this process with a second length of pipe at the other end of the propagation site.
- 4
  Stretch a sheet of plastic over the framework to protect the area inside. Use a sheet that is 10 feet wide by 13 feet long. Center the plastic over the frame and use landscape staples to secure the plastic along the sides. Allow the plastic to hang down over the end openings.
- 5
  Open the propagating frame during the day by folding the plastic back from the open ends. Close the plastic at night to protect the cuttings from frost and cold temperatures.

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