Growing grapes from seeds is a tough job if done without proper knowledge. Those of you who want to know more, this article is for you.
Growing grapes at home is one of the most cultivated hobbies of the people who like gardening. Growing grapes and maintaining the grapevines later, can be a challenging task, that really needs much effort. A lot of grape varieties can be cultivated in the garden, each with its own distinct aroma, taste, and flavor. Growing grapes for wine, fruits, jelly, or jams, can be a great thing for a true hobbyist. Well pruned grapevines can enhance the landscape value to a great extent. Grapes are extremely nutritious and provide many healthy benefits as well.
Amongst the many methods of growing grapes, we focus on the method of growing grapes from seeds. This can be a really tough job, since it requires a lot of patience and dedication. One must treat the grapevines as a child and provide the same TLC.
Typically, grapes are planted by cutting or grafting the stocks. The prime reason why this is done is, because the seeds take more time to germinate and also it is a common assumption that seedlings are less productive and less tasty, as compared to the parent plant. Still, enthusiasts who are very interested to try their hand at growing grapes from seeds, can easily find grape seeds in the nearest plant nursery or an online nursery. You may also collect the grape seeds from grapes. Bring home the grapes and remove the seeds, scrub them a little with an old soft bristled toothbrush, and store them in a dry place for a week to 10 days. Here are a few simple things that are worth considering.
- Plant the grape seeds into small, soil filled pots. Make sure you plant them just beneath a ½ inch layer of the soil. Put this pot into a plastic bag and cover it well.
- Refrigerate this pot for at least 30 to 90 days. Make sure you maintain the temperature below 40 degrees, so that it can facilitate the dormancy of the seeds. You will also have to make sure that the seeds do not freeze!
- Next, remove the seeds from the refrigerator and let them come back to room temperature. Make sure you don’t subject them to direct sunlight as it can cause the grape seeds to die.
- Put the seeds into a plastic bag until they start to germinate, after which you can place them in a dry area. While doing this, make sure you keep the soil inside the pot moist, and is not over-watered.
- Transfer the seeds in separate pots after the plants have grown up to be at least around 8cm. Place these pots in a shady and covered spot that will protect them from harsh wind and rain. Keep them like this for 10 to 15 days. Then move the plant to a permanent location in the backyard.
Tips for Growing grapes
While planting the seeds in the soil, make sure you select the correct location, one which is bright, sunny, and not frosty. Possibly, choose an area that has adequate slope, especially a southwest slope. The next important factor is the irrigation and water supply for the plants. Do not plant the grape seeds in clay soil or soil with poor drainage, as it will affect the quality of the fruits.
Choose the best cultivar that will suit the area and atmosphere. Space the plants 7 to 8 feet away from each other, this is very necessary. Also, as a part of basic training, one must learn how to build a grape trellis, that provides a strong support to the vines. Next thing is to provide appropriate fertilizers like manure, compost, and other chemicals (if necessary). Pruning the grape vines is also absolutely necessary. These things are essential to facilitate a healthy life cycle of the grapevine.
Take all the above mentioned things in consideration and plant the seeds well for the best results! Happy gardening!