Starting bare root grape vines

[Ariel301]

I ordered three bare-root grape vines and received them recently. They did not come with instructions at all, just the plants in plastic bags, and I have not grown grapes before. They sure don't look like much for two year old plants...just little twigs with a root at the end.

I made a nice area for them to grow in, with fencing for the vines to grow on. I went ahead and put the vines in the ground, not knowing what to do with them really, and have been watering them daily.

Is that what I should have done, just plant them? How long should I expect to wait before they sprout something more alive looking? How much water do they really want? If they even grow, should I expect them to make fruit this season, or will it take a year or two for them to get going? Any other hints on growing these things?

 

[vfem]

What Zone are you in? Has it warmed up yet? You'll see buds swelling on the vine when they take and come back from the warmth. They just should have sent them to you dormant... meaning they are healthy, but sleeping still.

If its warm it may only take a couple weeks for them to wake up and show life. If its still going to be cold, it may be until sometime in May when it wakes up.

Just depends on your weather conditions.

Go ahead and plant them, soak the roots for a few first... they sound just like any bare root plant is shipped.

 

[damummis]

I have 5 coming myself. I will probably start them in pots to get them going good.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Ariel301]

We're in zone 8, I think, but I'm not positive on that. It's warm here, usually 70s to 80s in the day and 50s at night. (We have that much temperature swing all year, being in the desert)

I'll watch for the buds. I hope they grow, I'm really looking forward to grapes! I got Concord, Catawba, and Niagara. My husband is hoping to get back into winemaking; he used to do it until buying grapes at the grocery store got way too expensive.

They're already planted, I was just hoping I hadn't missed some all-important pre-planting step that I was supposed to do.