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Growing grapes from seed can be a challenging but rewarding process. To start, collect grape seeds from fully ripe grapes. Rinse and dry the seeds before planting them in a well-draining soil mix. Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged, and provide plenty of sunlight. Germination can take several weeks to months, so be patient. Once the seedlings have grown large enough, transplant them into larger pots or directly into the ground. Prune and train the vines as they grow to promote healthy growth and fruit production. With proper care and patience, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor in a few years.
Grapevines (Vitis spp.) seeds are typically only sown by plant breeders to create new grape varieties. However, you can also try growing your own cultivar using this method, although the resulting plant may not be as good as the original. To ensure success, select seeds from a grape variety that thrives in your climate. Some seedlings may start producing fruits within two years, while others may take up to seven years to bear fruit.
Obtain Grape Seeds
To harvest grape seeds, cut a fully ripe grape in half lengthwise and extract the seeds using a clean knife or your fingernails. Be careful not to damage the seeds. Place the seeds in a container of water and let them soak for 24 hours. Remove and discard any seeds that do not sink.
Prepare the Seeds
Drain the seeds the next day and place them in a small container with a little damp peat moss. Use about one tablespoon of peat moss for every 50 seeds. Close the container and refrigerate it at a temperature of 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit for three months. This period of cold exposure is known as stratification.
Plant the Grape Seeds
After the stratification period, open the container and plant the seeds in a flat of damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Plant the seeds at a depth about three times their length, spacing them 1 1/2 inches apart. Make sure the flat has drainage holes at the bottom. Place the flat under a grow light that is on for 16 hours a day, as grape seeds germinate best with long-day conditions. Keep the seed-starting mix damp. Some seeds may germinate within two weeks if the temperature remains around 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and drops to about 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night. However, others may take up to two months or longer to sprout.
Speed Up Seed Germination
It is said that soaking grape seeds in running water can eliminate the need for stratification, as the water washes away the germination inhibitors. To try this method, put damp grape seeds in a small muslin bag immediately after harvesting them, and place the bag in a stream of running water, such as a babbling brook. You may need to tie the bag to a stake to prevent it from being carried away.
Under these conditions, the seeds may start developing roots in as little as eight days. Once they have grown roots, plant them in the same way as stratified seeds without roots. Do not leave the seeds in the water for more than 12 days, as their roots will start turning brown.
Care for the Seedlings
When the young grapevine seedlings have two sets of leaves, transplant each one into its own 4-inch-diameter pot filled with a mixture of 8 parts potting soil, 1 part pumice, and 1 part sand. You can feed them with a plant food specifically designed for seedlings, such as 2-3-1, at half the recommended strength. For the first month, mix 1 tablespoon of 2-3-1 fertilizer with 1 gallon of water. After that, increase the fertilizer amount to 2 tablespoons per 1 gallon of water. Transplant each seedling into its own 1-gallon pot around six weeks after it was moved into the 4-inch pots.
The young grapevines should be prepared to be moved outdoors when they have grown six true leaves in addition to their original two seed leaves. To acclimate the vines to outdoor conditions, start by placing their pots in a shady area for a few hours each day and then bringing them back indoors for the remainder of the day. Gradually expose them to more sunlight.
Once the last average spring frost date has passed in your area, choose a sunny location with well-drained soil for planting the grapevines. This spot should be next to an arbor, trellis, or fence. Dig a hole that is wider and deeper than the vine’s root ball and plant the seedlings about 8 to 10 feet apart. Place the vines at the same soil depth as they were in their pots. Fill the holes with the soil that was removed, ensuring that the soil around the plants is level with the surrounding ground. Trim each grapevine back to its lowest two leaf buds. Water the plants thoroughly and make sure they receive at least 1 inch of water per week during their first year.
Add a small amount of balanced fertilizer to the soil around each vine. Use about one-fourth of the regular rate of fertilizer, such as 5-5-5 organic fertilizer. Apply approximately 3/16 cup every other month from spring to autumn. Increase the amount of fertilizer by one-fourth each spring until the grapevines are receiving the full recommended amount per feeding, which may be 3/4 cup of 5-5-5 organic fertilizer, by their fourth year.
