Seed grapes
Content:
Seed-grown oranges, lemons or tangerines have long been a surprise. Many people successfully try to grow pomegranates, figs and date seed palms at home. Since the appearance in stores of fruits that were previously considered exotic, experimental flower growers have already learned how to cultivate kiwi, avocado, mango and feijoa at home. And perhaps, at some point, enjoying the wonderful taste of grapes, you will think about trying your luck and not growing grapes from the seed at home? Let's see what can come of this and whether the result is worth the effort.
Seed grapes at home: why grow?
For propagation of grapes, cuttings are usually used or ready-made seedlings are bought. Growing it from seeds is quite troublesome. Therefore, this method is used extremely rarely.
But a person is so arranged - he is interested in what, how and why is happening. It is interesting to observe how a delicate sprout sprouts from a small seed, turning over time into a flowering bush, tree or, in our case, a vine.
What will you get in the end
If you decide to grow grapes from seed at home, then most likely an experimenter has woken up in you once again, who wants to see what will come of it. And that's fine, because as a result, you can get:
- Rootstock for grapes of the same variety already growing in your summer cottage.
- New variety. By planting seeds, you do not get any guarantee that the grown plant will inherit the varietal characteristics of your chosen grape. The size and taste of berries can vary significantly.
- New knowledge and experience. This is just guaranteed to you, since in the process of preparing for the process and growing grapes, you, one way or another, will collect, study information on the topic and apply the knowledge gained in practice.
So if you still have doubts, drop them and start planting grapes. And to make the process even more interesting - plant two, three or four varieties at the same time to compare their growth and see which one is most suitable for growing at home.
We grow grapes from seed at home: preparation for the process
Experts will advise you to choose varieties for planting that are frost-resistant, high immunity and good yields. But the reality is that most likely for the experiment, you will buy seed in the fruit and vegetable section of the supermarket, so you have to work with what you have.
For planting, you need seeds from the ripe fruit, but not from those that have burst or started to deteriorate. The seeds should be as large as possible and brown in color. This is an indicator of ripeness.
Gently remove the seeds from the grapes (do it by hand, not while eating), wash them well and lay them on a damp linen or cotton cloth. Then wrap them in a plastic bag and put them in the refrigerator, where they will stay for 4-6 weeks. Remove the seeds from time to time, rinse them in running water.
When the necessary time has passed, cracks will appear on the bones. This suggests that the planting material is almost ready. Take the bones out of the refrigerator and put them in a warm place for 48 hours (we leave the damp cloth, but the bag is no longer needed).As soon as tiny white roots appear, you can start planting.
How to grow grapes from seed: care for seedlings
Home-grown grapes from seed: photo
If you decide to follow all the rules and prepare the soil for growing grapes from seed at home on your own, then mix humus and sand in a ratio of 2 to 1. Do not forget to put a drainage layer on the bottom of the pots. Then fill the containers with potting soil and plant the seeds no more than 1 cm deep.
The pots can be placed on the windowsill to provide the maximum amount of light. After about a week, shoots should appear, which at first look like pepper seedlings. Further, you need to take care of the grapes in the same way as for any other seedlings: water, loosen the soil, apply fertilizers in a timely manner and carefully protect them from the attack of harmful insects.
In early summer, plant the grapes in slightly larger pots and temporarily settle grapes on the balcony... Over the summer, they can grow fabulously, and in the fall you will transplant already matured plants into the ground.
Or you can transplant grapes from the seed to the dacha at the end of spring. But then do not forget to pre-harden the seedlings, gradually accustoming them to fresh air and temperature differences. If everything is done correctly, the grapes will take root well in a new place and overwinter successfully.
But you should be patient, since you will most likely wait for the first harvest not earlier than in four to five years.