Can I grow grapes in my backyard?

If you've always wanted to grow grapes – now's the start time! Spring is the perfect time to grow a few grapes to enjoy a plentiful harvest for years to come.  

Grow grapes

Our small vineyards at the farm where we grow grapes in a traditional row style.

Growing small perennials such as grapes, strawberries, asparagus, blueberries and fruits can really compliment the home-grown plan to supply your family with fresh fruit.  View : Perennial Food Growing 

Once established, grapes can produce for decades, depending on the variety selected - they can supply you with everything from table grapes to homemade jams, jelly, juices and wine! 

Grapes are easy to grow crops – whether in façade, mesh, ivy – or more traditional posts and wire settings. It is also possible to decorate the landscape with their large carved leaves and colorful ripe fruits.  

What to plant

What a variety of plants depend on what you want to do with your grapes. Whether it's eating simple food (grapes) – or so of jam, juice, jelly or wine – there are ideal varieties to fill each specific need.

Grapes can be divided into three basic varieties: European, American and Muscadine American varieties such as Concord and Mars, good for jams and jelly - and are more resistant to cold than most of the European varieties.

Many European selectors are more known for making wine - although there are some great american hybrid varieties and new ones that are now producing some incredible wines here in the state too.

At our small farm - we planted a selection of Mars and Concord for table grapes, jam and jelly. We also planted Marquette grapes a few years back - red grape wines developed here in the upper Midwest that can withstand cold winters.  Here are a few resource links for buying grapes: Mars Grape Vines, Grapes, Concord Grapes.

Where to grow grapes – and how to grow them

Grapes love the sun – so you want to find them in areas that get a lot of light. The morning and afternoon sun is the best option to provide good growth and ripening of plants. 

When you grow your grapes, it depends on how you buy them. If you buy grape vines without roots - you will want to grow the plant in early spring, immediately the land warms up, and you can run the ground. If you buy bare root plants with flowers then (this usually happens in nursery or big box stores, where they are kept inside and start flowers), it is best to wait until it passes the threat of frost in your area and plant them.  

Since grapes are a long-term perennial plant – you want to make sure that the soil is properly prepared from the outset to give them years of yield.

Start by digging a hole diameter of 10 to 12" about 12 inches deep. Fill the finger below a few holes with loose soil. We like to add a little good aged compost as well with soil mixing. Set the grape plant in a hole – then fill it with a few more inches of soil or soil/compost mixture around the roots.

Make sure at this point that the soil level of your plant is planted approximately. 1/4" or so below the new grounding.

Water gently around the plant and the first few inches of soil. - And tamp the soil gently around the roots. Next, fill the rest of the hole with soil. Don't tighten the soil any more at this point - so make sure to leave loose for good drainage and circulation. You may need to come back in a few weeks to add to each planting cycle – but this is better than stomping solid ground around the plant. We'll talk below about long-term support – but for young grape crops just put into the soil – take a small stake to keep the vines backed.

Support your long-term cultivation

No matter where you grow their crops – you need to give your grape crops plenty of support to keep them growing stronger.  Simple metal poles with a few wires attached will work - but you can also get creative and plant them over arbors or pergolas to create a living wall or roof of grapes. 

Grapes will do well wherever they can get sun, water and support. - You can also grow them in a fence row. Just remember that most vines will have outlive the fence!

Birds will love them too - so be prepared to put the net over them when the harvest time arrives if you want to keep some of the plants for you.

If you're growing in a row - you'll want to space your vine about 6 to 10' apart.  If you are growing on a frame or growing pergola - be sure to plant your vine out of foot traffic directly and on the outer edge of the structure. This makes the grapes harmless as they have been established. 

Long-term care

OK - so this is bad news - you won't get the first few grapes on your grapes - and if you do - you actually have to remove it. Keeping the vines from the effect for the first few years allows the main stalk to shoot and the roots will grow stronger. 

Pruning: You have to cut your grapes in early spring to insure good cultivation. Prunes in the early stages of spring cut back on old growth from the main. This is where most people fear - but the more you cut - your crops will better turn out in the long run the grapes will form a new atop from the main crutch – so that growing too old will hinder productivity.

So add a few grapes to your home this spring and get set to enjoy the "fruit " of your labor for years to come!

If you would like to receive our weekly updates for 3 weeks via email, be sure to sign up to follow us in the right-hand corner of the blog. Each week we publish the recipe of the week, DIY/ Our gardening and sunday farm update articles