Where to Plant Grape Vines?

Grapes are one of the few fruits that grows just about anywhere in the world. Since the dawn of civilization, grape growing has been a sophisticated and high class form of farming. The products have been the envy of kings the world over. So picking the right location for your new vineyard isn’t quite as important as picking the right geographic location for the KIND of grapes that you want to grow.

There are grape growing associations all over the world. Nearly every state in the US has an association, and then there are entire provinces/states/etc of other countries devoted to the growth of grapes in foreign nations. So it is important to know a WHY you’re growing the grapes. Are you trying to make wine? Are you making table grapes? Trying to make a product like a dye or raisins? These all require a different climate to grow in, so you’re crops will be impacted based on where you are located.

Some of the factors involved in climate are listed below:

Soil Type

The soil plays a large part in the health of grapes. It needs to be soft and deep so that your grapevine’s roots can grow deep and strong. The stronger the roots, the better the grapes produced. Of course some areas don’t sport very healthy soil, this will impact the grapes. Some vines, however, grow better in more arid environments allowing for them to grow strong in a slightly less fertile location.

Moisture

The moisture in the soil, air, and with rain will severely impact the health of grape vines. Grapes like moisture, however, some varieties handle dryer environments better than other. It all depends on what you’re growing, but when you’re setting up shop weither it is the bitter cold Northern Minnesota, or the tropical Hawaiian islands, or the perfect climate of Northern California, you will need to make sure that you have a variety of grape that appreciates that environment.

Some grapes are much more susceptible to diseases in highly moist environments. You’ll find yourself constantly battling Downy Mildew and other fungal infections in your plants, while others will grow freely and happily in the exact same area. So check on some of the top diseases for your grape variety and ensure that your area is a tolerable location. Otherwise picking another type of grape may be in order.

Temperature

While no plants like freezing weather. Some types of grapevines do better in colder environments than warm environments. Again it is important to do research for the particular variety of grape. Grape Rot otherwise known as Black Rot, thrives in temperatures of about 80 Degrees Fahrenheit but certain species of grapes will resist it just fine even when it is ideal conditions for the disease to take hold.

So the key is not so much location as it is grape variety. If you know what kind of grape you want to start growing, then you’ll be learn where you want to grow it. The great part about all of this is that the mix of climate and the type of grape you’re growing will give you a unique flavor to the grapes you grow. Experienced people will learn to recognize the subtle differences in the flavor from grapes you’ve grown versus the same species in another location of the world. Knowing this should give you some ideas of where you’d like to locate yourself. Just pick your favorite wine or tabletop grape and find out where the best grapes for that come from. Follow your taste and you’ll find where you plant your grape vines.