Transplanting grape cuttings

Grapevines tend to be easy to propagate from hardwood cuttings. When a cutting has roots, it can be planted at any time of year.

For best results, however, it is a good idea to wait until after the last frost date in order to protect the new leaves that aren’t used to the cold.

Loosen the garden soil for 1 or 2 feet around the spot you want to plant it in the garden. Mix in a little organic matter if the soil needs it. Plant it about halfway in the ground. Water regularly and use a balanced fertilizer several times over the summer.

If the grape vine you intend to plant seems to have rooted easily (from a prior potting attempt), it is a good sign that there will be plenty of root growth to support a future structure.

Some types of grapes root poorly and are grafted onto short stems with good root systems. If few roots or no roots grow from a grape cutting, then it will have to be grafted.

Hardwood cuttings are the cuttings from last year’s growth. Softwood cuttings would be from this year’s green stems. Although they might root, the hardwood cuttings are better.

The various grape varieties were originally brought to this country by enterprising people who usually used hardwood cuttings.