When it comes to how to grow grape vines, probably the most important aspect is the soil you are planting in. The soil should be analyzed before planting in order to find out what type minerals your soil may need to grow a great grape vine. The grape is fairly adaptable and grows very well in rich organic soil. There is a positive effect if the soil lacks nutrients. This will help prevent the growth of weeds and excessive foliage on the vines. If the soil is to poor it could affect the growth of the vines and the production of grapes. Therefore it is important that you add nutrients to poor soil but be careful not to add too much. When adding nutrients to the soil it is easy to add but almost impossible to remove nutrients from the soil. The best pH for the soil is between 6.0 and 6.5. If the soil has a lower pH than 6.0 you will need to add lime to the soil to increase the pH level. When the soil has a pH of 7.0 or higher you will probably need to find a grape vine that has been adapted to soil containing high lime concentrates.

Using organic fertilizer like manure has many different advantages. One advantage of using organic fertilizer is the usable nitrogen that is in the fertilizer. Depending on the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium your soil requires will dictate which type of manure you will need to use. If you do not have access to organic fertilizer, you can use commercial fertilizer.

Even though the soil is probably the most important, you also need to take into consideration where you should plant your vineyard. For instance your vines need to be planted in a well drained soil. Also the plants need plenty of sunlight and air circulation. Before planting it is a good idea to check the location after a heavy rain to make sure there is no water standing. The best location for a vineyard is on a hill side, this gives you plenty of drainage. Also it is preferable that he hill side be on the south side of hill, which protects the plants from the north wind and also allows the plants to receive plenty of sunlight. Another advantage of planting on a hillside is that they are usually low in nutrients due to years of erosion. The soil should be able to support heavy plants. Therefore you should not plant in sandy soil.

Another very important part of the planting process is the installation of a trellis system. Your trellises should be built with at least four by four posts that are well braced. Because, when the vines are loaded with fruit they are very heavy and will need plenty of support. When building your trellises make sure you use treated wood because the trellises will need to support the vines for years to come. Remember if you are planting new plants it will take three years before they start producing grapes.

Happy grape growing,
Steve Barnett