Planting Grape Vines - For printable version of this page, click here

Grapes can be grown in practically any soil, with the exception of heavy clay or water logged ground. They prefer alkaline soil rather than acid therefore if you can grow rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias etc with ease, you should add ground limestone to the area you intend to plant. Most grape vines that you can buy will have been grafted onto a strong root stock, this is to increase the growth and health of the vine and stops the spread of disease.

• For outdoor vines choose the sunniest part of the garden, so a south facing
  aspect is ideal…generally the sunnier the spot you choose the sweeter the
  grape.
• Dig a hole to the same depth that the vine was planted to previously (usually
  you can see a mark where the soil used to come up to on the stem).
• At the bottom of the hole make a small mound in the centre.
• Do not add fertilizer at this stage as this will tend to cause the vines to put on
  too much leaf growth next spring. For best results add two scoops of Rootgrow
  mycorrhizal fungi to the bottom of the hole so that the roots are able to come
  into direct contact with the fungi.
• Spread the roots over the mound, backfill the hole and water well. Once
  watered add a mulch to help retain the moisture and suppress weeds.
• During the first summer it is advisable to feed with a high potash feed such as
  sulphate of potash or even a liquid tomato food such as Tomorite.

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