How to Grow Grape
Grape At a Glance
Difficulty
Moderate
Category
Vine Fruit
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -18°C
Plant Family
Vitaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Start with a young potted vine of a named variety that is hardy where you live, since many grapes cannot take a Canadian winter. Plant it in spring, about 3 weeks before your last frost while it is still dormant (no leaves yet), next to a sturdy trellis or fence, 180 cm from other vines. It fruits in about 3 years.
Grape vines live for decades and one vine is enough, since grapes pollinate themselves. The one job that makes or breaks the harvest is pruning hard every late winter, because grapes form on new shoots that grow from last year's stems.
When To Start
Grape needs warmth. Wait until your last frost has passed and the soil has warmed before sowing.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Grape?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Grape Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Grape Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Plant your grape vine now, while it is still dormant
3 weeks before your last frost
Prune grapes hard now, side stems back to 2 or 3 buds
45 days before your last frost· every year
Taste your grapes and pick only when fully sweet
150 days after your last frost· every year
Water your new grape plants well while they settle in. Deep and slow is best.
About 1 days after you plant it
Hello! Water your young grape vine deeply each week while the roots settle in.
About 30 days after you plant it
Good growing! Tie the strongest shoot loosely to the support so it climbs straight up.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Grape's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Plant grapes in your sunniest, warmest spot, ideally against a south-facing wall or fence.
- 2Grapes like soil that drains well and is only moderately rich, so mix in a little compost at planting and no more.
- 3Water deeply every week for the first 2 years, then only in long dry spells, and spread a thin layer of compost around the base in spring without overfeeding.
- 4Every late winter, while the vine is bare, cut last year's side stems back to 2 or 3 buds each, keeping the main trunk and arms, so the vine stays a tidy frame.
- 5Pull off some leaves around the bunches in summer so air and sun reach them, which keeps mildew (a white or grey dust) away.
- 6Grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs, so never let a dog eat fallen fruit.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
300 cm
Mature Height
400 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
30 days
When to Pick
Pick only when fully coloured AND sweet to taste: grapes don't ripen off the vine
How to Harvest
- 1Do not trust colour alone, since grapes can look ripe for weeks before they turn sweet.
- 2Taste a grape from the bottom of a bunch, which ripens last, and pick only when it is fully sweet.
- 3Cut the whole bunch off with pruners or scissors, holding it from below.
- 4Grapes do not get sweeter after picking, so leave them on the vine until they taste right.
- 5Cover bunches with mesh bags or netting if birds or wasps find them first.
- 6Keep grapes unwashed in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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