Love growing grapes? Or want to know how to grow them indoors? Well, you’ve made a good choice. Who doesn’t love juicy grapes as perfect snacks? They are great for making wine, taste amazing in salads, and also taste good when tossed with rice! If you love Indian food, try searching for curd rice – you will love it!
Grapes need a good amount of sunlight. So, it makes sense to wonder if you can grow grapes indoors. Sure, it is possible; however, you will need to mimic the outdoor environment. And that includes providing ample light, space, large containers, and support. It’s tough to replicate sunlight because it’s so powerful, but there’s nothing you can’t get if you search for it.
In fact, some of the best grapes are grown indoors or in greenhouses. Many commercial cultivators prefer greenhouses because they produce juicy tender grapes. Since grape plants are climbers, you will need some sort of support to help the vines stretch. Of course, you can prune and train them the way you want. And that’s the beauty of growing indoors. As long as you control the temperature and air ventilation, you will be able to grow some great plants.
Grape plants are beautiful. Some varieties like the Vitis coignetiae are grown for ornamental purposes too! The leaves turn red and crimson depending on their growth cycle.
Step by Step Guide on How to Grow Grapes Indoors
To grow grapes indoors, you will need:
1. Lights
It’s important to use powerful lights. Because it needs to perform as well as sunlight. Anything in the range of 600W to 1000W would do, assuming you’re growing only 1-2 plants.
Over the years, LED Grow lights have become a favorite for growing plants indoors. You can also use CFL or HPS lights. But, while CFLs aren’t all that powerful, HPS lights draw too much power. HPS lights are as powerful as LEDs. Some are brighter than LEDs and offer a great yield, but they get hot very fast. You will need extra equipment like air conditioners or coolers to reduce heat. Also, the power draw is something many growers can’t afford.
LEDs are powerful, bright, and cheap. They don’t draw a lot of power. Attached with heat sinks, the lights remain cool for a long stretch of time. A 1000W LED grow light is more than enough for grapes to remain happy and produce fruits quickly.
2. Containers
Grapes will not grow in small containers. They grow best in big airy containers. You’ll be better off if you choose something that’s at least 15 gallons and above. Your best bet is to grow in something that allows excellent aeration since there isn’t going to be a lot of ventilation indoors. It’s okay to grow in plastic containers too, but you might risk root rot as the soil will not dry soon. You can also choose whiskey barrels if you have them at hand.
3. Space
Since you’re going to be using large containers, you will need the space to place them. Whether you’re growing in a greenhouse or a room indoors, it’s important to choose a location that provides at least 6 feet in height and 6 feet horizontal space for the vines to stretch out.
4. Support
Grape vines spread out. Thus, you will need something that can hold the vines. You can use a trellis you usually use for your tomato plants. If you don’t have them, consider using a bamboo trellis to support the vines. For extra support, you can always use trellis made of steel to ensure that the plant isn’t bogged down. You can always build one yourself if you don’t want to spend too much on a trellis.
5. Choose the right variety
You see, not all varieties will grow well indoors. You need plants that are specifically meant to adjust indoors with less light.
Which Varieties Of Grapes Grow Best Indoors?
Concord grapes, Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat Vitis Vinifera, Black Hamburgh, Canadice, Seyval, Earlu Muskat, Swenson Red, Buckland Sweetwater, Royal Muscadine, Rambrandt, Fosters seedling, Gros Maroc, Chasselas Rose, and Interlaken are some of the varieties you can grow. Choose a variety keeping the space you have in mind. This means that if you choose a large variety, you must have ample space to accommodate the plant.
How Long Does it Take To Grow Grapes Indoors?
It depends on whether you’re growing the plant from seed or a grafted plant. Generally, it’s best to use a grafted plant because you can harvest your grapes in just 150-170 days. If you grow from seed, though, you may even need to wait for 3-4 years. Also, plants grown from seed may not even resemble the mother plant, so you might end up with plants that are unsuitable for indoor gardening.
What Conditions Do Grapes Grow Best In?
Pay close attention to the light you want to provide. It’s best if you grow in a greenhouse because the light isn’t too powerful. Or, experiment with your grow light settings to ensure the plants don’t get burned due to too much light.
Another important condition for the grapes to do well is the potting mixture. You must create a potting mix that drains well. Or, purchase a good mix online to use it immediately. You could also shop from your local nursery. If none of these appeals to you, you can always make your own mix containing 60% gardening soil, 20% sand or grit, and 20% cocopeat.
Now that you have a good potting mix, add either a slow-release fertilizer or bonemeal to the potting mix when you’re creating the mixture. It’s a good idea to use organic compost frequently. You can make your own compost at home or purchase a commercial one.
Training – Grape plants require some care if you want to harvest a bunch of grapes every year. Grapes are trained using the “fan” system to ensure that the plants grow well. This method involves a lot of pruning to encourage lots of new growth. During the plant’s first year, prune everything except the main stem. The next year, consider pruning even the main stem to just 18 inches if they have grown too big.
Remember that it’s best to prune at the end of the season every year. This will encourage new shoots and the plant will grow much faster. Pruning may seem like you’re hurting the plants; however, the plants begin growing a lot faster when you cut off old growth.
As the plant continues to grow, you can leave 2-3 new shoots in the main stem. Train them according to the way you want them to grow. This means that you’ll have to use a trellis that allows the vines to grab them. If the plants begin to spread a little too much, prune them again. You can also tie down the vines to the trellis if they are uncontrollable.
What Is The Best Temperature For Growing Grapes?
If the winters are too cold, you can take them out for a few days for that extra warmth. Keep an eye on the temperature while growing indoors. Usually, grapes do well when grown in temperatures of about 61 F to 65 F. Use an air conditioner to manipulate the temperature. If you’ve got a heater inside your Grow Room, make sure your plants are placed away from the heater.
Are Grapes Easy To Grow?
Yes, they are, depending on how you choose to grow them. There are several ways to grow some of the best grapes you can find commercially. There are three ways to do this:
1. Grow from seed
Growing grapes from seed are generally tricky. If it’s your first time, it’s best to stick to easier growing methods that involve purchasing a grown plant and taking care of it. However, if you like a particular variety and want to experiment, you can start from seeds.
Avoid getting seeds from hybrid varieties. They usually do not resemble the mother plant. Sometimes, the seeds may not sprout at all. Purchase seeds online for better results. Remember that plants grown from seeds take a long time to produce fruit. It can take anywhere from 3 to 4 years. Some varieties take almost 7 years. If you’re ready for the wait, here’s how you germinate grape seeds.
First off, grape seeds will germinate faster if you soak them in water before planting. It’s good to soak them for about 24 hours but don’t let them sit in the water for too long. If you’re an experienced gardener, you already know the basics. But, if you’re a beginner, you will need to get fresh cocopeat and mix in a little organic compost with that. You can always buy seed starting soil or seedling mix if you don’t want the hassle.
Once the seeds are soaked and ready to be planted, take a small tray and fill it with your seedling mix. Grapes cannot be planted in containers right away because they need some time to go through a process called stratification. This simply means that the seeds will go through a cold period before they are planted. This needs to be done to mimic natural growing conditions.
So, get a plastic tray that’s small enough to fit into your refrigerator. Next, sow the seeds in the seedling mix and cover them with damp tissue paper. You can close the container with a lid. Ensure that the seeds are safe in temperatures ranging from 35 to 40 F for at least three months.
Next, plant the seeds in your seedling tray. Cover the seeds with at least 1 inch of soil and water them. Don’t sprinkle too much water. Just keep the mix moist, and not dry or soggy. The seeds might sprout in just two weeks, but it can take a month or two, depending on how good they are.
Once the seeds sprout, you can introduce them to your grow light. But, don’t do it suddenly. Rather, do it gradually. For instance, if the seeds received light for an hour today, you can do it for two hours the next day. As they mature, they will need at least 8 hours of light. The more light, the faster the plant grows. Therefore, some growers keep them under the lights for 12 hours per day.
When they grow a few leaves, you can transplant them to slightly bigger pots. You can now start using fertilizers or organic compost. Later, when the plant has quite a few leaves (takes at least 2 months from seed) move them into their final big containers. Water them frequently, and prune whenever necessary.
2. Grow using mature plants
You can get mature plants that are at least a year old. The best part is that they will begin fruiting the very first year you take them home because grafted plants are much faster than those that grow from seeds. Do not introduce them to the grow lights as soon as you take them home. Just repot them into their final containers and place them in a shaded area for a few days. Once it’s confirmed that there are no transplant shocks, you can put them below your grow lights.
3. Grow using cuttings
You can use cuttings to grow grapes too. As long as you have cuttings that are a bit fresh and are at least 10 inches long, you’ll do fine. Dip the cuttings in root hormone powder or honey and place them in water for a few days until the tops grow a few leaves. You can then pot the cuttings in another container and place them in a shaded area for a few days until they become sturdy enough. Later, when the plant has developed a few roots, you can place it under a grow light.
As you can see, it’s not very tough to grow grapes indoors. Keep trying until your perfect the art of growing the best grapes right at home.
