How to Grow Black Spanish Grapes

Plant Black Spanish grapevines in early to mid-spring when temperatures reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit. These sensitive plants do best with warm, gentle starts.

Choose a site for the vineyard where the grapes will get full sunshine all day, quick year-round drainage, good air movement and protection from harsh winds. South-facing slopes provide ideal sites for grape vineyards.

Amend planting sites for the grapevines. Mark 2-foot-square sites at every 8 to 9 feet in the row, with 9 to 10 feet between multiple rows. Till the top 10 inches of soil and incorporate 5 inches of organic compost to give the Black Spanish grapevines rich, loose and quick-draining soil. Grapevines do best in loose soil, which allows for deep, healthy root development.

Plant Black Spanish grapevines in holes deep and wide enough for their root balls. Spread the roots in the holes and bury them carefully with amended soil. Stick your fingers into the soil periodically to eliminate air pockets, which damage the roots.

Prune each grapevine down to two to five growing nodes to encourage fresh new growth. Put the grapevines on a schedule of 2 inches of water every week to keep them moist and healthy.

Feed the new grapevines the week after planting. Give each bush 8 ounces of 10-10-10 fertilizer the first year, with an increase to 1 pound of fertilizer in the second year and 1 1/2 pounds of fertilizer in the third year and thereafter. Mix the fertilizer into the soil 6 to 12 inches from the base of each grapevine.

Spread 2 inches of mulch over the soil to protect the grapevines from drying. Put a trellis behind each row of Black Spanish grapevines to support them as they grow, and tie the main canes and vines up to the trellis system with soft cord ties.