How to Grow Grapes from Seeds

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This article was co-written by Andrew Carberry, MPH. Andrew Carberry has worked with school gardens and has been involved in the farm-to-school program since 2008. He is currently a Program Associate at Winrock International, specifically the Community Based Food Systems Team. copper.

There are 10 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

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

Table of Contents

Choose grape seeds

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Choose the right grape variety. There are thousands of grape varieties 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 the following in mind: ^{[1] X Research Sources}

Purpose of planting: Maybe you want to grow grapes for fruit, jam, wine, or just to decorate the garden. The grape variety you intend to grow should meet your needs.
Climatic conditions where you live. Different grape varieties are better adapted when grown in certain soils and climates. Look for grape varieties that will grow well in your area.
The vines grown from seeds have many natural variations. There are some genetic differences even among vines of the same type, so the vine you grow may not be what you expect. You should be open-minded when working on this project and be ready to experiment.

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Collect grape seeds. Once you’ve identified the grape variety you want to plant, start collecting seeds. Seeds can be obtained from purchased grapes, from a nursery, from wild vine branches in the yard (in some regions), or from another gardener.

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Make sure the grape seeds are still usable. Inspect the grape seeds to make sure they are healthy and in good condition. Squeeze the grape seeds between two fingers. Healthy grape seeds will feel solid. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Observe the color of the grape seeds. With healthy seeds, you will see a white or light gray endosperm underneath the seed coat.
Drop the grape seeds into the water. Healthy and usable grape seeds will sink when dropped into the water. Grape seeds floating in the water should be discarded.

Preparing seeds for planting

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Prepare seeds. Select useable grape seeds and wash them thoroughly to remove pulp and other matter. Soak in a little distilled water for up to 24 hours. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Seed incubation. Many seeds need a period in cold and moist conditions to begin the germination process. In the wild, seeds will undergo this process as they sit in the soil over the winter. You can simulate such conditions by incubating seeds. For grape seeds, the best time to start aging is in December (in the Northern Hemisphere). ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Prepare the seed incubation medium. Use a ziplock bag or another receptacle that can be sealed and fill it with a soft material such as a wet paper towel, vermiculite, or damp peat moss. Peat moss is the best choice for grape seeds, as the antifungal properties in peat moss will help remove mold that damages the seeds.
Put the seeds in the incubation bag. Fill a layer of medium on top (about 1.2 cm thick).
Place the seed bag in the refrigerator. Ideally, the seed incubation temperature should be stable between 1-3º, so the refrigerator is the most suitable place for this process. Store the seeds in the refrigerator for about 2-3 months. Do not allow the seeds to freeze.

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Sow the seeds. In early spring, take the seeds out of the fridge and plant them in a pot with good quality potting soil. Sow each seed in a small pot or sow multiple seeds in a large pot, spaced about 4 cm apart. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Make sure to keep the seeds warm. For good germination, the seeds need a daytime temperature of at least 15ºC. You can place the seed pot 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 the soil begins to dry out.
Check seed growth. Grape seeds usually germinate within 2-8 weeks.

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Plant seedlings. When the seedlings are about 8cm tall, put them in a pot about 10cm wide. For the healthiest vines, you should keep the seedlings indoors or in a greenhouse until they reach a height of about 30 cm, have healthy roots, and have at least 5-6 leaves.

Move the vine outdoors

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Choose a suitable location to plant grapes. To grow well, the vines must be planted in a sunny, well-drained location with a trellis for climbing plants. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Choose a sunny location. For best results, vines need 7-8 hours of full sun each day.
Make sure you have plenty of space for plants. Plant the vines about 2.5 meters apart so they can grow well.

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Prepare the soil before planting. The vines require well-drained soil. If your soil is high in clay or poorly drained, you need to improve it with well-rotted compost, sand, or other soil improvers to increase drainage. Alternatively, you can grow grapes in a raised garden with a mixture of humus, sand, and compost.

Test the pH of the soil before planting grapes. Different grape varieties will grow best in soils with different pH levels (pH 5.5-6.0 for native grapes, 6.0-6.5 for hybrids, and 6.5-7.0 for regular grapes), Therefore, it is best to plant grapes in a place with an appropriate pH, or adjust the pH before planting. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
If you’re going to grow grapes for wine, be aware that different soil types (eg sandy, silty, calcareous, clayey soils) will affect the flavor of the wine. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Fertilize plants after planting. After two weeks of planting, add a small amount of 10-10-10 fertilizer to the soil around the base of the seedling. ^{[9] X Research Source} You then need to fertilize once a year in the spring.

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Make the right trellis for the vine. The vine needs a support pole or pole. During the first year (2 years after seeding begins), when the plants are young, garden stakes are sufficient for the plants to lean on and lift them off the ground. As the tree grows, you will have to bend the tree to a truss or pillar. Tie the ends of the branches to the truss and let the plants climb along the trellis. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Take care of the tree properly and wait patiently. It usually takes three years for vines to begin to bear fruit. During this time, you need to care for and bend the plant properly to have the best harvest season. ^{[11] X Research Source}

First year: Monitor the growth of the tree. Choose the three strongest shoots left. Cut off all other shoots. The three buds left behind will grow stronger and more energetic.
Second year: Add balanced fertilizer for plants. Cut off the new inflorescences that appear; Letting the branches bear fruit early takes away the energy of the tree. Remove all shoots or buds growing below the three main branches selected from the previous year. Prune the tree properly. Loosely tie the main branches to the post or truss.
Third year: Continue fertilizing and remove low-growing buds and shoots. During this year, you can leave a few flower clusters to have a small harvest.
From the fourth year onwards: Continue to fertilize and prune branches. From this year onwards, you can leave all the inflorescences and produce fruit if you like.
When pruning, you need to be aware that grapes will bear fruit on one-year-old branches (that is, branches from the previous year).

Advice

Don’t expect the seed to produce the exact same vine as the one you seeded. The results may surprise you!
Grape seeds can be incubated for long periods of time (even years), as the seeds will hibernate under these conditions.
If the first try does not see the seeds sprout, re-incubate and try again next season.
If you don’t know how to bend and prune vines, talk to gardeners or nurseries for help.

Steps

Choose grape seeds

Preparing seeds for planting

Move the vine outdoors

Advice

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