How to Plant Wine Grape Seeds
Today more people are growing grapes to make into wine. By growing your own wine grapes, you control the pesticides and fertilizer used on them. Although grapes are often hard to germinate from seed, they are not impossible. The next you next time you buy grapes at the store, enjoy the fruit, but save the seeds to plant later. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Paper towel or screen
- Peat moss
- Well-draining potting soil
- Small and large pots
- Water
- Plastic
- Heat mat (Optional)
Instructions
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1
Remove the pulp from the grape seeds. You can do this by placing them on a paper towel or screen allowing them to dry for a week or two.
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2
Stratify the grape seeds. Place them in a damp paper towel or peat moss and place this into a baggie. Store the baggie in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 months. Keep the paper towel or peat moss moist, but not soggy wet.
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3
Fill pots with well-draining potting soil. The best kind to use is a special soil mix made for seed germination. You can find this potting soil at most garden supply centers.
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4
Plant the seeds in the pots when the stratification period is over. Cover the grape seeds with 1/4 inch of potting soil. Gently firm the soil down so the seeds have good contact with the soil.
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5
Water the pots well and then cover the pots with plastic. This will keep the humidity level high and help with germination.
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6
Put the pots in a place where the temperature remains 70 to 75 degrees F during the day and an evening temperature of 65 degrees F. A heat mat works for this because it will keep the temperature constant.
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7
Keep the soil moist, but not too wet.
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8
Remove the plastic covering when you see the seeds have germinated. Place the pots in a window so they get sunlight.
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9
Transplant the seedlings into a larger pot when they have grown their secondary leaves or are about 2 inches tall. Leave them to grow in this container for 1 year. Plant them outdoors when all danger of frost is gone.
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Tips & Warnings
Some grape seeds will not germinate. If you are using seeds from grapes you purchased in the grocery store, they may not produce the same results as the grapes you planted.
If you forget your grape seeds for months or even years while they are held in stratification, the seeds will still be acceptable to sow.
References
- Photo Credit Vine - Field grape-vine image by Sebastien Icard from Fotolia.com
