Content

• Steps
• Advice

Have you ever wanted to plant your own vineyard? The vines look both beautiful and useful and are also among the oldest cultivated plants. People often propagate grapes by cuttings or grafting; however, with determination (that will be hard!) and patient (it will take time!), you can grow grapes from seeds. Read on if you want to know how to be successful.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Choosing grape seeds

1. 

   Choose the right grape variety. There are thousands of varieties of grapes around the world. To get the best results when growing grapes, you should choose the grape variety that works best for you. You can learn about grape varieties and keep in mind the following factors:
   • Purpose of planting: Maybe you want to grow grapes for fruit, to make jam, to make a wine, or just to decorate the garden. The variety you intend to grow must meet your needs.
   • The climatic conditions where you live. Different varieties of grapes will adapt better when grown in certain climates and climates. Look for grapes that will thrive in your area.
   • Seed vines have many natural variations. There are some genetic differences even among the grapes of the same type, so the vine you plant may not be what you expect. You should think ahead when working on this project and be ready to experiment.

2. 

   
   
   Collect the seeds. Once you have identified the variety of grapes you want to grow, start collecting seeds. You can get seeds from grapes bought, from a nursery, from wild vine branches in the yard (in some areas) or from another gardener.

3. 

   Make sure the seeds are still usable. Check the seeds to make sure they are healthy and in good condition.Squeeze the seed between two fingers. Healthy grape seeds will feel solid.
   • Observe the seed color. With healthy grape seeds, you will see a white or light gray endosperm under the seed coat.
   • Drop the seeds in the water. Healthy and viable seeds sink when released into the water. Grape seeds floating in the water should be removed.
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Part 2 of 3: Preparing seeds for planting

1. 

   
   
   Prepare the seeds. Select usable grape seeds and wash them thoroughly to remove any pulp and other matter. Soak in small amounts of distilled water for up to 24 hours.

2. 

   Incubate seeds. Many seeds need a period of cold and humid conditions to initiate the germination process. In nature, seeds will undergo this process while lying in the soil for winter. You can simulate such conditions by annealing the seeds. For grape seeds, the best time to start seeding is in December (in the Northern Hemisphere).
   • Prepare a seed incubation medium. Use a zippered bag or other resealable container, and add a soft material such as wet tissue, vermiculite or damp peat moss. Peat moss is the best choice for grape seeds, as the antifungal properties in peat moss help remove harmful mold on the seeds.
   • Put the seeds in the compost bag. Fill the substrate with a layer (about 1.2 cm thick).
   • Place the seed bag in the refrigerator. Ideally, the incubation temperature should be stable in the 1-3º range, so a refrigerator is the most suitable place for this process. Store seeds in the refrigerator for about 2-3 months. Do not let the seeds freeze.

3. 

   
   
   Sowing seeds. In early spring, remove the seeds from the refrigerator and sow them in a pot of good quality soil. Sow each seed in a small pot or put several seeds together in a large pot, about 4 cm apart.
   • Make sure to keep the seeds warm. In order to germinate well, the seeds need at least 15ºC daytime temperatures. You can place the seedlings in a greenhouse or use a heating mat to keep the seeds at the right temperature.
   • Keep the soil moist, but not too wet. Spray a thin layer of mist on the ground when it starts to dry.
   • Check for seed growth. Grape seeds usually sprout within 2-8 weeks.

4. 

   Planting seedlings. When the seedling is about 8 cm tall, place the plant in a pot about 10 cm wide. For the healthiest vines, keep the seedlings indoors or in a greenhouse until the plants are about 30 cm tall, have a healthy root system, and have at least 5-6 leaves. advertisement

Part 3 of 3: Move vines outdoors

1. 

   Choose a suitable location for growing grapes. In order to grow well, vines must be planted in a place with adequate sunlight, good drainage and a truss for the vines.
   • Choose a sunny location. For best results, grapes need 7-8 hours of full sunlight a day.
   • Make sure you have plenty of room for the trees. Plant the vines about 2.5 meters apart so they can thrive.

2. 

   Prepare the soil before planting. Vines require well-drained soil. If your soil has a high clay content or poor drainage, improve the soil with decomposed compost, sand, or other soil quality enhancers to increase drainage. Alternatively, you can grow grapes on a raised garden with a mixture of humus, sand, and compost.
   • Check the pH of the soil before planting grapes. Different grape varieties will do best in soil with different pH (pH 5.5-6.0 for native grape varieties, 6.0-6.5 for hybrid grape varieties, and 6.5-7.0 for common grapes), Therefore, it is best to grow grapes where the pH is right, or adjust the pH before planting.
   • If you plan to grow grapes for wine making, be aware that different types of soil (e.g. sandy, silty, limestone, or clay-rich) affect the taste of the wine.

3. 

   Fertilize the plants after planting. 2 weeks after planting the grapes, add a small amount of 10-10-10 fertilizer to the soil around the seedling base. Then you need to fertilize once a year in the spring.

4. 

   Make a suitable scaffold for vines. Vines need a trellis or support post. In the first year (2 years after the start of sowing), when the tree is young, the stakes in the garden are enough for the tree to lean on and lift it off the ground. As the tree grows, you will need to bend the plant in a truss or pylon. Tie the top of the branch to the truss and let the tree creep along the truss.

5. 

   Take proper care of the tree and wait patiently. Vines usually take three years to start bearing fruit. During this time, you need to properly care and flex your plants for the best harvest.
   • First year: Keep track of plant growth. Choose the three strongest buds to leave. Discard all other shoots. The three remaining shoots will grow stronger and more vigorous.
   • The second year: Add a balanced fertilizer to the tree. Cut off the newly appeared flower clusters; letting the branches bear fruit early will take away the energy of the tree. Remove any buds or buds that grow below the three main branches selected the previous year. Prune the tree properly. Loosely tie the main branches to the post or truss.
   • Third year: Continue fertilizing and removing low buds and shoots. During this year, you can leave a few flower clusters behind for a small harvest.
   • From the fourth year on: Continue fertilizing and pruning. From this year on, you can leave all the flower clusters and bear fruit if you like.
   • When pruning, be aware that grapes will bear fruit on branches that are one year old (that is, branches from the previous year).
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Advice

• Do not expect the seed to produce the exact same vine as the grape you seeded. The results may surprise you!
• Grape seeds can stay incubated for long (even years), as the seeds will hibernate under these conditions.
• If you don't see the seeds sprout at first try, re-incubate and try again next season.
• If you don't know how to bend and prune the branches, talk to your gardener or nursery for help.