Growing Grapes Article 2 - Grapevine Planting Tips
Amateur grape growing farmers always come to me and asked when is the best time for planting grapevines and if the climate and temperature of any particular season have any effect on grapevine growing. This is a very good question and it is one that all of you who are new to the growing wine grapes industry should pay close attention to. Planting dormant bare root grapevines is best done during the early spring at around late March early April. This has just proven to be the best time of the year for the grapevines to absorb natural water for their roots due to the April showers rainy season. Grapevines require about an inch of water per week during the first growing season so statistically there couldn't be a better time for planting gravevines than during the early spring.
Remember new grapevine plants require a lot of water and if by any chance you cannot plant your grapevines upon receipt from the nursery, my suggestion would be to moisten the packaging material around the roots and place the grapevine plants in a plastic bag. Store this bag inside a cool garage or cellar.
Now, on to planting grapevines. Before the actual planting is achieved, you should first soak their roots in water for about 2 to 3 hours. Go ahead and create the planting holes a tad bigger than the root systems of the plant and then, if you can, set the grape plants into the earth soil approximately about the same level that they grew in the nursery. If you are having a difficult time figuring the level, just look at the soil line mark and root initials and that should indicate the proper level for root planting. Next, using the original soil from the nursery, backfill the hole then firmly soil around the roots, around each grapevine plant, construct a basin.
Make an effort to plant your grapevines at about six to eight feet apert from each other within the row. When dealing with Concords and other types of vigorous grape plants, it is best to use an eight foot spread while planting the lesser dynamic grape plants six feet apart. Each row should be spaced about nine to 10 feet apart.
Once you are finished planting grapevines, the strongest cane must be cut back to about 2 to 3 buds. Make sure these buds are strong then completely cut out all the other canes. If by any chance during the first growing season a trllis is not used, I would recommend setting a five to six foot stake into the earth near each of the grapevines and train the new growth into it. The shoots should be loosely tied to the stake. This will ultimately avoid girdling the stems. Support the new growth up until the time they reach the top of the six foot wire on the grape trellis.
Follow these grapevine planting guidelines and you will be well on your way to a strong and healthy growth. However, there is more to grapevine planting that needs to be absorbed and understood for ultimate success. If you would like some of the inside techniques of professional backyard
grape growing techniques and grapevine planting strategies, Click Here.