How to Grow Grapes on Arbors in Florida

Grapes need support for growing.

Grapes are old-world fruits that started in the Mediterranean countries of Italy, Spain and Greece. Today, grapevines grow throughout the world as one of the most popular home fruit crops. As sensitive plants, though, grapes require up to 200 days of frost-free growing, with bright, warm summers and temperate winters. Florida's long summers and warm USDA Growing Zones 8 to 11 provide ideal grape-growing weather, though grape growers may encounter difficulty with swampy soil and humidity. To grow grapes successfully in Florida, gardeners must amend soil for drainage and grow grapes on a trellis system for air circulation.

Things You'll Need

• Quick-draining soil
• Organic compost
• Gravel
• Pruning shears
• Shovel
• Arbor/Trellis
• Felt ties

Instructions

1. Plant grape canes in early spring in Florida to allow the new plants to establish before the heat of summer. Last frost dates range from the end of January in the Everglades to the end of March in Pensacola, so planting should take place from mid-February to mid-April, respectively. Choose a site that gets full sun all day, and try to find a place that gets complete drainage. If you have a south-facing slope, plant the grapes there for ideal air, drainage and sun exposure.

2. Amend the soil if you have a site that gets good drainage, or build a raised bed if your land falls in a Florida swamp area. Mix a combination of one-third gravel, one-third quick-draining soil and one-third organic compost into the top 6 inches of any site that drains effectively, or build up a 6-inch raised bed on swampy land. Grapes fail if their roots get wet, so it's never a good idea to plant them in soil that doesn't drain. Pull up any weeds or grass when you're amending the soil, as grapes don't grow well with competition.

3. Plant grapes at 9 to 12 feet, in rows at 11 to 12 feet, to give each grapevine plenty of space for outward growth. Give grapes shallow plantings in holes that are as deep and twice as wide as their root balls. Spread the roots at planting, then pack amended soil in tightly around them to secure the canes and eliminate any air pockets. Water grapes with 2 inches of water after planting. Maintain a weekly schedule of 2 inches of water.

4. Put a trellis system or arbor behind each grapevine. When the canes get tall enough, tie them to this foundation for support. Once the canes put out growing shoots, prune away all but four of the shoots, leaving two shoots on each "side" of the cane. Tie two shoots to the trellis on the right of the cane, and two shoots to the trellis on the left. Separate each shoot by at least 1 foot of space to give them room to grow. Tie the shoots along the trellis as they grow, to train them. Always tie main shoots rather than flowering stems; foliage and fruit should hang down, for better sun and air exposure.

References

• Victory Seeds: Average First and Last Frost Dates for Florida
• Growit.com: Florida USDA Hardiness Zone Map
• University of Minnesota Extension: Growing Grapes for Home Use
• Purdue University: Growing Grapes in Indiana

Resources

• Florida Grape Growers Association