Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, grapes are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing grapes.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height/Length | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Do Grapes Belong To?
Grapes (Vitis spp., most commonly Vitis vinifera) belong to the Vitaceae family, also known as the grape family.
One of their relatives is the Virginia creeper.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Grapes?
The minimum container depth recommended for grapes is 18 inches.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Grapes?
Some of grapes' best companions are as follows:
- Basil
- Beans like green beans
- Peas
- Geranium
- Oregano
- Clover
- Blackberry
- Mulberry
- Elm
- Alyssum
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Grapes?
Grapes are not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with grapes are as follows:
- Garlic
- Cauliflower, komatsuna, and other Brassicas
What Soil Conditions Do Grapes Need?
Grapes prefer well-draining, semi-rich, loamy, slightly acidic soil.
How Long Do Grapes Take to Germinate?
Grapes germinate best at a temperature of 60-80°F.
Depending on the species and variety, they can take between 2 weeks and 2 months to germinate.
How Much Sun Do Grapes Need?
Grapes need full sun. Specifically, they grow best with 7-8 hours of sunlight per day.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and grapes grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Do Grapes Need?
Grapes need 0.5 to 1 inch of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Grapes?
Grapes grow fastest in temperatures of 50-90°F.
This is their ideal temperature range. Although they will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some grape varieties are bred for later harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Long Do Grapevines Get?
The average length of grapevines is 5-15 feet. The exact length largely depends on the variety.
Are Grapes Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Grapes are perennial, meaning that they live for longer than a couple years.
How Do Grapes Reproduce?
Grapes reproduce by seed or cutting.
How Many Grapes Are Produced Per Plant?
For grapes, how many are produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type and variety.
Most grapevines produce 20-60 fruits per vine per year.
Can Grapes Be Ingested?
Grape flowers, leaves, fruits, seeds, seed oils, shoots, tendrils, and sap are edible.
Grape fruits have analgesic and digestion-supporting properties. Grape seeds, flowers, and leaves have anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. All of these parts can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are lotions and tinctures. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:3 at 50% alcohol is suggested for a grape seed, flower, fruit, or leaf tincture.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting grape flowers, leaves, seeds, seed oils, tendrils, shoots, sap, or fruits.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of grapes rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for grapes here!
Grapes are featured in these Plant to Plate articles: