How to grow Grapes

Do you want to grow your own Grapes? Learn how to do so with this detailed guide!

Grapes require well draining soil with plenty of compost mixed in.

Plant Grapes in a full sun, a small amount of afternoon shade is fine. 

Yes, however Grapes may need protection from severe frosts.

Plant Grape vines roughly 1.5m apart.

Late autumn or early spring is the best time to transplant most dormant plants. Plants, with the exception of bare-root, can be transplanted at anytime between when the ground thaws and when it freezes (so anytime if you are in a frost free climate). However, if transplanting in the heat of summer, you'll need to be diligent in watering and provide extra shade for your plant in the first few weeks after transplanting. 

Dig a hole 2-3 times the width of the root ball. The hole should allow the plant to sit at the same level in the soil as it was previously. Fill the hole with soil ensuring the crown of the plant, where roots and stem meet, is level with the soil surface. 

When transplanting, plant out in the early morning or evening and/or on an overcast day. Avoid planting at peak sun times or on windy days, this will allow your plants to settle in comfortably and protect them from windburn and sunburn.  

Top-dress the soil around your Grape vines with well rotted compost each season. Apply an organic fertiliser in the second year of growth. If soil is prepared well before planting than fertilising is generally not necessary in the first year.  

Harvest fruit when ripe for full flavour. The colour and size will vary based on the variety planted.  

Pests that affect Grapes include: Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, Spotted-winged Drosophila, Fruit Fly, European Grapevine Moth, American Berry Moth, Khapra Beetle, Vine and Grape Mealybug, Weevils, Leafhopper, Aphids. 

Diseases that affect Grapes include: Xylella Fastidoisa and Pierce’s Disease, Blackrot, Grapevine Leaf Rust, Red Blotch Virus, Angular Leaf Scorch and Rotbrenner, Bacterial Blight, Gray Mold. 

Grapes should be trained up a trellis or support system.

There are many methods for pruning Grapes, so it's best to research which method suits you best. Grapes should be pruned during their dormancy, usually in late winter. Despite the chosen method, grapes need to be pruned heavily to promote an abundance of good quality fruit. When pruning Grapes, you’ll want to cut off as much of the old wood as possible. This will encourage the growth of new wood which is where the fruit is produced.