How to Grow Grapes on T-Posts

Plant grapevines in late winter during their dormancy. Grapevines do best with an opportunity for immediate spring growth.

Choose a proper site for the grape plantings. Grapevines need full sunshine, quick year-round drainage and good air circulation, with protection from harsh winter winds. Choose south-facing sites for best sun exposure and protection, and give each grapevine 5 to 7 feet of space.

Turn the top 12 inches of soil over throughout each planting site and incorporate 7 to 8 inches of organic compost or garden loam. Grapevines do best with deep, loose and moist soil for healthy root growth. They fail with tight, slow-draining soil or lack of nutrition.

Plant grape cultivars hardy to your growing zone for best success. Dig holes as deep and twice as wide as the root systems, trim away dead or broken roots and spread the roots carefully in the holes. Grapevines need full root-to-soil contact and fail with air pockets in their plantings. Fill the planting holes carefully with amended soil to plant the grapevines up to their crowns.

Dig 2-foot holes 4 inches behind each grapevine. Slide 10-foot T-posts into the holes and pack soil around them to secure them in place.

Water the grapevines with 4 inches of water to settle the soil, and put them on a schedule of 2 inches of water, once a week. Lay 2 inches of mulch over the soil in a 16-inch circle around each grapevine. The mulch restricts weed growth and maintains soil moisture and warmth. Prune each grapevine down to one healthy cane with five to 10 growing buds.

Fertilize the grapevines the week after planting to spur new growth. Turn 10-10-10 granular fertilizer into the soil around the grapevines, then water. Always keep fertilizer granules at least 6 inches from the grapevines to avoid burning.

Tie grapevines and canes up and along the T-posts as they grow. Use soft twine ties and loose knots for tying. Set up second T-posts for the grapevines to allow additional room, if necessary.