Growing Grapes in Your Backyard

Return to Main Growing Grapes (table, wine, raisins) in Your Backyard

Topic	What are the sunlight, soil, and space requirements for a backyard vineyard?
Overview	Grapevines do best with full sun - about 7 or 8 hours per day. Less light leads to lower fruit production, poorer fruit quality, increased powdery mildew, and fruit rot. Grapevines will grow and produce well on a wide range of soil types, but good drainage is very important. Roots tend to grow deep – up to 15 ft. deep, although most of the roots grow in the top 3 feet of soil. Therefore, soils should be at least 3 or 4 feet deep above hardpan, stratified layer, or rock, although with careful management, 2 feet of soil can be adequate. The best wine quality often comes from vines that are grown on less fertile and rocky soils. Less fertile soils often produce smaller berries, which is preferable for winemaking because it gives a greater skin to juice ratio. Large berries are desirable for table grapes, so deep and rich soils are preferred, although vegetative growth can be rampant. Table grapes also grow quite well on less fertile soils and the reduced vegetative growth may be less cumbersome. On poorly drained soil, large amounts of well decomposed compost should be incorporated before planting. Incorporate 2 inches of compost deeply in an area up to 10 feet wide for each plant. If the soil is adobe clay or if shallow hardpan is present, consider using raised beds or planters that contain good soil. How much space do I need? Spacing between rows can be as little as 8 ft. apart where soils are marginal and up to 12 ft. for wider trellis systems and deep, rich soils. Vine spacing within the row can be 6 to 9 ft. apart. A typical spacing might be 8 ft. apart to accommodate normal growth. Home grapes are often grown on arbors. Use one vine per 50-100 sq. ft. of arbor space, or more if vigorous varieties are used. A healthy vine will take up a minimum of about 50 square feet of arbor space, and vigorous varieties or vines grown on deep, rich soil should be given 75 to 100 square feet or more.

Topic

What are the sunlight, soil, and space requirements for a backyard vineyard?

Overview

Grapevines do best with full sun - about 7 or 8 hours per day. Less light leads to lower fruit production, poorer fruit quality, increased powdery mildew, and fruit rot. Grapevines will grow and produce well on a wide range of soil types, but good drainage is very important. Roots tend to grow deep – up to 15 ft. deep, although most of the roots grow in the top 3 feet of soil. Therefore, soils should be at least 3 or 4 feet deep above hardpan, stratified layer, or rock, although with careful management, 2 feet of soil can be adequate.

The best wine quality often comes from vines that are grown on less fertile and rocky soils. Less fertile soils often produce smaller berries, which is preferable for winemaking because it gives a greater skin to juice ratio.

Large berries are desirable for table grapes, so deep and rich soils are preferred, although vegetative growth can be rampant. Table grapes also grow quite well on less fertile soils and the reduced vegetative growth may be less cumbersome.

On poorly drained soil, large amounts of well decomposed compost should be incorporated before planting. Incorporate 2 inches of compost deeply in an area up to 10 feet wide for each plant. If the soil is adobe clay or if shallow hardpan is present, consider using raised beds or planters that contain good soil.

How much space do I need?

Spacing between rows can be as little as 8 ft. apart where soils are marginal and up to 12 ft. for wider trellis systems and deep, rich soils. Vine spacing within the row can be 6 to 9 ft. apart. A typical spacing might be 8 ft. apart to accommodate normal growth.
Home grapes are often grown on arbors. Use one vine per 50-100 sq. ft. of arbor space, or more if vigorous varieties are used. A healthy vine will take up a minimum of about 50 square feet of arbor space, and vigorous varieties or vines grown on deep, rich soil should be given 75 to 100 square feet or more.