Seedless grapes are not a miraculous production, they come from grapevines that naturally produce grapes with no seeds, or just tiny, underdeveloped seeds. Many varieties of seedless grapes can grow fruits on their own as they are often self- fertile.
However, they do require the support of a trellis, fence, or stake to support their vines to climb. Seedless grape plants can grow fruits in a variety of different colors such as white, red, blue, or pink grapes. Seedless grapes are especially good for wine grapes, fresh eating table grapes, and grapes used for making jams and jellies.
Now that we know what seedless grapes are and what they are popular for, let’s dive into how they and when they are grown. Feel free to follow the steps if you plan on growing these juicy fruits yourself.
The Best Time to Grow Seedless Grapes:
Seedless grapes grow best when planted in the early spring after the last frost is gone. The perfect climate to grow them changes depending on the type of seedless grapes; however, they thrive in climates with long, warm summers with hefty amounts of sunlight, which is about 7 hours every day.
Winters aren’t the best time to grow them as they go dormant in a cold climate, but pruning them in the winter months prepares them for a wholesome summer growing season.
How to Grow Seedless Grapes:
The best way to grow your grapevine is to propagate them from a vine instead of growing them from seed. Here’s the step-by-step guide to planting seedless grapevines in your own garden:
Get Started with the Right Grapevines:
When buying your grapevines, make sure you get a dormant, bare-roots grapevine from your local nursery. Also, make sure that it is self-fertile and can bear fruits without you needing to do any extra work to pollinate them. After that, soak the roots of the grapevines in water for about 2 to 3 hours before you plant them.
Plant it Right:
Pick a spot that gets maximum sunlight at your home. If you are planning to grow multiple grapevines, plant them at a distance of 8 feet from each other. And make sure there is support for the vines to climb like a pergola, trellis, fence, or stake.
Soil Preparation:
The perfect soil for seedless grapes to grow is the well-draining, loamy soil. Make sure you add enough compost and mulch to keep your soil healthy and help new plants grow.
Time to Start Planting:
Start by digging a hole that is twice as deep as the root system of your grapevine, or about 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide. After covering the exposed roots with soil halfway up the hole, tamp it down. Fill up the remainder of the hole without tamping the soil. After planting, water your grapevine as soon as possible.
Pruning the Climbers:
Trim your grapevine to two stems by pruning. This will stimulate the vine to grow on your trellis or fence in two directions.
How to Take Good Care of Your Seedless Grapes?
Taking care of seedless grapevines can be a bit of a hectic job but it’s all worth it when you pluck a grape and get to enjoy its deliciousness. Here’s what you need to make sure your seedless grapevines are well taken care of:
Water Them Weekly
You must water them every week for the first year of growth.
Fertilize
In the second year of growth, fertilize your grapevine soil lightly using organic fertilizer.
Pruning Time
Your grapevine will produce new, healthy growth when unhealthy vines are pruned. When your vines are dormant in the winter, prune them to two or three fruiting canes and you will get to see new growths when spring arrives.
Trim, Trim, Trim
Trim back some of your grapevine foliage to give your grapes more sunshine if they won't fully ripen.
Keep a Check
When our grapes are plump, juicy, and full of flavor, they are prepared for harvest. To check the freshness of your grapes, harvest a few from the vine. Pick them when they are ripe, wash them, and then enjoy. Harvested grapes should be stored apart from other foods in a cold location, such as a cellar, in a cardboard box, or crate. Grapes after harvest can be kept for up to six weeks.
