Growing juicy vine-ripened grapes in your own home may sound impossible, but with the right conditions varieties and care it can be done! Here is a complete guide to successfully cultivating grapes indoors.
Overview of Indoor Grape Growing
Growing grapes indoors allows you to enjoy fresh homegrown grapes regardless of climate or outdoor space constraints. While grapes thrive best outdoors advances in plant lighting technology along with an understanding of grape vine needs makes indoor cultivation possible.
With proper set up and care, grape vines can flourish inside, providing beautiful greenery and cascades of sweet fruit. Key factors for success include:
- Selecting compact, early ripening grape varieties suited to containers
- Providing sufficient light, warmth and humidity
- Allowing enough space for growth and trellising
- Regular pruning and training for optimal fruit production
When these parameters are met, grapes can be grown successfully indoors to produce a satisfying homegrown harvest.
Choosing Grape Varieties for Indoor Growth
Not all grape varieties are suited to indoor growing. The best varieties for indoor cultivation are:
-
Compact or dwarf varieties: Since space is limited, choose grape vines that are naturally smaller and more contained.
-
Early harvest varieties: Focus on grapes that ripen early in the season so they can fully develop indoors.
-
Seedless varieties: Seeded grapes take longer to mature and are less desirable for fresh eating.
-
Self-pollinating varieties: Avoid grapes requiring a pollinator, which is difficult to facilitate indoors.
-
** Disease resistant varieties**: Pick grapes with resistance to common fungal diseases like powdery mildew.
Some top grape varieties that meet these criteria include:
- Canadice
- Reliance
- Mars
- Venus
- Saturn
- Jelly Green
Consult your local nursery to find recommended compact, early harvest grape varieties suitable for your region.
Providing the Right Growing Conditions
In order to yield a successful grape harvest indoors, you must mimic the outdoor growing conditions grapes need.
Light
Grapes require full sun. Indoors, situate vines near bright sunny windows. Supplement natural light with grow lights providing 12-16 hours of light per day. LED full spectrum grow lights work well.
Temperature
Grapes thrive at daytime temperatures of 68-77°F (20-25°C) and nighttime temps around 55-60°F (13-16°C). Maintain these through ventilation, air conditioning and heaters.
Humidity
Optimal humidity for grapes is 40-60%. Improve humidity by misting vines, using a humidifier or placing vines above pebble trays. Ensure good air flow to prevent fungal disease.
Air Circulation
Use fans to circulate air and prevent disease. Prune leaves and shoots to open up the vine and allow airflow.
Support Structure
Grapes need a sturdy vertical support structure for climbing. Use a trellis or install hooks along walls for vines to grow on.
Container Size
Plant grapes in containers at least 10 gallons in size, ensuring adequate room for root development.
Soil
Use a well-draining potting mix amended with compost for growing grapes in containers.
Caring for Indoor Grape Vines
Proper care is vital to maintain health and maximize fruit production of indoor grapes.
Watering
Water vines when the top few inches of soil become dry. Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom.
Fertilizing
Feed indoor grapes monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer during spring and summer.
Pruning & Training
Prune vines in early spring before buds break to shape the vine and improve yields. Pinch off excess shoots and train vines along supports.
Pollinating
Outdoors bees pollinate grapes, but indoors you may need to hand pollinate using a soft brush when vines bloom.
Pest Management
Inspect leaves and address any spider mites, mealybugs, fungus gnats or other pests promptly. Use organic sprays as needed.
With attentive care, your indoor grape vines will thrive!
Growing Grapes in Containers
Given their climbing nature, grapes lend themselves well to container growing. Here are container growing tips:
- Use a large pot or half wine barrel size container, at least 10 gallons.
- Ensure container has drainage holes to prevent root rot.
- Include a trellis or plant next to a wall for support.
- Situate container in a sunny spot.
- Water frequently to account for confined roots.
- Fertilize regularly.
- Prune vigorously to contain vines.
- Move container outdoors seasonally if possible.
Choose a compact, patio-sized grape variety suited to containers like ‘Jelly Green’. With ideal growing parameters in a container, you can harvest grapes on your patio!
Setting Up an Indoor Grape Vine Trellis
To grow grapes indoors, you need a sturdy vertical support structure. A trellis is ideal.
Construct a simple wooden or metal trellis along a wall or create a freestanding A-frame trellis. Install hooks along the length of the trellis for vines to climb on. Position trellis near a window for ample sunlight.
Alternatively, affix hooks at intervals along a wall for vines to climb on. Hammer hooks into wall studs for security. Space hooks 12 inches apart vertically.
As vines grow, gently tie them to supports, training shoots horizontally along the trellis or wall. Prune off stray shoots.
Harvesting and Storing Grapes
-
Harvest grapes when fully colored and sweet. Test taste grapes to judge ripeness.
-
Clip grape clusters off vine carefully with pruners, keeping stem attached.
-
Store freshly picked grapes in refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. Do not wash before storing.
-
Enjoy grapes fresh or incorporate into recipes. Grape leaves are also edible.
-
Excess grapes can be frozen, juiced, made into jam or fermented into wine.
With proper care and favorable conditions, home gardeners can experience the joy of growing grapes indoors and plucking fresh grapes right off the vine. The sweet taste of grapes ripened in your home is well worth the effort required.
Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Grapes Indoors
What are the easiest grapes to grow indoors?
The easiest grapes to grow indoors are compact, early ripening varieties like Canadice, Reliance, Mars, Venus and Saturn.
How much light do indoor grapes need?
Grapes need full sun, which indoors means 12-16 hours under grow lights or near bright sunny windows.
What temperature is best for indoor grapes?
Daytime temperatures of 68-77°F (20-25°C) and nighttime temps of 55-60°F (13-16°C) are ideal.
How often should indoor grapes be watered?
Water grapes when the top few inches of soil become dry, watering thoroughly until it drains from the bottom.
Should indoor grapes be fertilized?
Yes, feed indoor grapes monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer during spring and summer growth periods.
How much space do indoor grape vines need?
Allow at least 6-8 feet spread out along a trellis or wall for an indoor grape vine to grow.
With proper care, the right grape variety and a suitable growing setup, grapes can be successfully grown indoors to provide fresh homegrown fruit. Try your hand at cultivating these lush vines indoors!
Let’s grow grapes in containers
With a little planning, you can grow grapes in a container on a sunny patio or balcony.
Purple grapes on the vine.
Growing grapes may seem like an undertaking only for a trained viticulturist in vineyard. However, grapes can be grown in a pot on a sunny patio or balcony with a little planning.
You can grow almost any variety of grapes in a container. The hardest part of growing grapes is to know when and how they need to be pruned. Pixie grapes naturally grow small, so they’re great for pots because they only get 18 to 24 inches tall and wide and won’t need much, if any, pruning.
- Grape vine with roots, crown and shoots.
- A big pot, at least 15 to 20 gallons, with holes in the bottom for drainage
- The pot needs to be at least 16 to 18 inches deep and 18 to 24 inches wide.
- Dark pots soak up and hold too much heat and sunlight, so stay away from them. Wood is an optimal container.
- Four-foot stake or other supporting system.
- A fertile and well-drained type of soil.
- Do not use garden soil; instead, use a light potting mix.
- Add compost to your pot to increase nutrients each year.
- Pruning shears.
- Ties; these can be garden ties like zip ties, Velcro, or something else that works. Do not tie tightly.
- Mulch.
- Fill the pot’s bottom with small stones until they cover the whole bottom. Perhaps you should put a little screen over the hole in the pot’s bottom to keep the stones from going through the hole.
- Fill the pot about half way to the top with potting soil.
- Take the grape plant and fan out the roots. So that the roots don’t get tangled up around each other as the plant grows, you want them to be spread out.
- With one hand on the grapevine, add soil to the pot until it can hold the plant. No more than the planting depth should be used to bury the plant.
- Wash the pot with water until you can see water running out of the bottom. You may need to add more soil.
- Mulch the grapevine. This will improve the look of your patio and keep the soil from drying out. Make sure the mulch is spread out evenly and is only two to three inches deep.
As your new grapevine grows its first season, you should make sure it has a strong root system. The following steps below will help ensure that happens.
- After planting the grapevine, pick the strongest cane, or two canes if you want a vine with two trunks. Prune off the rest of the canes. Even though it might not make sense to cut back a new plant, doing so lets it focus on making a few strong vines.
- Next, cut back the cane(s) so that there are only two or three buds left. The shoots for your new potted grapevine will grow from these buds.
- Tie the grapevine to the stake or support system.
- At least once a week, give the vine a lot of water.
Steps for long-term care:
- Most types of grapes can reproduce on their own and make fruit on their own. On the other hand, the yield is better if you gently shake the plant when it flowers.
- Do not prune during the first year of growth. Take off the old wood at the base of the plant every second and third year. The best time to prune grapes is from late winter to early spring, when they have only two buds. Refer to Pruning Grapes videos from Michigan State University Extension.
- Cover the grapevine with pine bark, compost, or pebbles (this will also make it look great) to keep the soil from losing too much water and to protect the roots from changes in temperature.
- In places where winters are harsh, you need to keep the plant safe. An unheated garage works well.
- Diseases and pests. It is possible to get fungal diseases like black spots and powdery mildew when the weather is dry and warm. When it comes to pests, watch out for aphids and other common garden bugs. Japanese beetles, moths and caterpillars can also be a problem.