Traditionally, it is believed that propagation of grapes is possible only by seedlings or layering. There is another, albeit long, but interesting way. How to grow grapes from seed at home in order to have an ornamental plant and get a decent harvest as a result.
Is it possible to grow grapes from seed at home
Although numerous studies confirm that the method of grape seed propagation is not always justified. This is due to the fact that the seedling rarely retains the varietal properties of the parent plant. But this method is sometimes used
Purpose of growing grapes from seed
- Breeding work (breeding of hybrids, formation of varieties with the best taste, frost and disease resistant).
- Cultivation of seedlings.
- Ornamental use of the seedling.
- Growing stock.
Not all grape varieties are suitable for the seed propagation method, early hybrid ones are often used:
- Russian concord,
- Marshmallow,
- Delight,
- Kesha-1,
- Triumph,
- Laura.
And the productive qualities of self-fertile varieties: Early dawn, Alpha, Russian purple are inferior to the mother bushes.The choice depends on the purpose of using the berries: sour - for winemaking, sweet ones are eaten without processing.
Specific features are not always preserved. Therefore, you can sow several seeds of the same variety at once. In the future, compare the taste, yield, pest and frost resistance.
Grapes grown from seed are significantly inferior in yield and fruit taste, compared to a plant propagated by cuttings or cuttings.
Preparing seeds for planting
For successful seedlings, large, ripe berries are selected, without defects and diseases. Leave until fully ripe.
Stages of bone preparation
- Remove the pulp, wash the seeds under running water or soak for 2 hours.
- Large, beige or brown bones are selected.
- To increase germination, a stratification process is carried out, starting no later than December for several months. Then, at the beginning of summer, the seedling can be transplanted into open ground.
Stratification
Selected seeds are placed in a damp cloth and plastic bag and stored in the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks. The optimum temperature is + 3⁰C - 0⁰C. It is required to inspect the seeds regularly, once every 10 days.
To exclude the appearance of mold, it is necessary to periodically rinse the bones with water. Then, after 1.5-2 months, the shell will begin to crack. This marks the end of stratification.
At the final stage, the seeds are placed on a damp cloth, without covering, in a warm place. After about three days, thin roots will begin to appear. It's time for sowing in the ground.
Some gardeners do not always apply the stratification process. For this, crops are sown before winter, in open ground, while the percentage of germination is lower.
You should not use seeds from unripe berries for planting. They have a low germination rate, or weak shoots with low productivity grow.
Sowing at home in a pot
Sowing stages
- Prepare the soil. For these purposes, use a store or mix independently in equal proportions sand, humus and garden soil
- It is advisable to use a separate container for each seedling. Previously, a drainage hole is made in each and several stones are poured onto the bottom. Fill with an earthy mixture.
- The seed needs to be planted to a depth of 1-1.5 cm into a pot and shed.
- Well-lit windows, preferably south-facing, are ideal places for further growth. It remains only to germinate the planting.
- To preserve soil moisture before germination, the cups are covered with foil.
For the successful growth of seeds, it is necessary to maintain the temperature regime. The optimal daytime temperature should not be lower than + 20⁰C, and the nighttime temperature should not be lower than + 15⁰C. Then, after 7-11 days, a sprout will appear.
Plant care
An important factor for the growth of a strong plant is periodic, moderate watering and the presence of sunlight for at least 8 hours a day. In addition, the main care is loosening and feeding. Nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizer is applied every 10 days.
At the initial stage, it is better to water young shoots from a spray bottle so as not to disturb the root system... The seedling is inspected daily for the absence of spider mites. The pest is able to destroy the plant.
If in the plans the grapes will be used to decorate the room, then at a height of 10 cm the seedling is transplanted into a container with a volume of 3-4 liters.
Planting in open ground is performed in the first days of June.
Before transplanting, the seedlings are hardened for 5-7 days. To do this, during the day they are put out on the street, in a place quiet from drafts, in partial shade. These activities contribute to the rapid establishment and elimination of negative consequences from sunburn.
Outdoor transplant and vine care
When the seedlings reach a height of 20-30 cm, they are transplanted into the garden.
- A place for landing is chosen sunny, calm, preferably hidden from the north winds.
- Soils should be light, breathable, well drained. In humid lowlands the grapes freeze.
- A mixture of humus, sand and soil is poured into the dug holes at a distance of 1.5-2 meters from each other.
- Grape seedlings are planted in moist soil on a warm, sunny day.
- Each shoot is fixed to a vertical support (more often these are trellises 2 meters high with a stretched wire).
During the first summer, care consists of regular watering, loosening and weeding. Under favorable conditions, the grapes will root well and reach a height of 1-2 meters in the first year.
Formative pruning of the vine is recommended for the third year of growth. With the right choice of plant variety, the harvest is expected in 3-4 years, in rare cases after 2.
Growing grapes from seed at home is a more time-consuming process. This is due to the long growth period before the first harvests. And it does not always bring the expected effect. Therefore, in case of failure, and varietal qualities will not be preserved, the seedling is used as a stock.