The method of growing grapes from the seed is resorted to if the variety is difficult to root, or to breed a new variety. When propagated by this method, grapes do not always inherit the characteristics of their parents, but acquire new characteristics and properties that have not been expressed before. With the help of such selection, we get more resistant, hardy and large varieties. And the growing process itself can be a lot of fun, as you can watch the gradual growth and development, which is an extremely exciting process.
Pros and cons of growing
A plant grown from a seed is several times more stable than any other. It is much easier to endure unstable climatic conditions or the attack of parasites. Of course, propagation by other methods is also available to gardeners, but breeding by planting seeds is more effective.
You can grow grapes from seeds if you have no other alternative. So the plant will increase its positive characteristics, but you will receive the first ovary in at least 4 years.
Due to the fact that the bush is forced to form its entire root system from scratch, you will have to wait a while, you can only harvest a full-fledged crop after 5 years of careful care.
Will the grapes bear fruit?
An important factor for choosing to plant grapes by seedlings is their ability to produce a good harvest in the future. This method of planting causes controversy among gardeners. As a result, they split into two camps. Some argue the failure of such a method, while others vehemently praise it and recognize it as the best of all.
It is worth clarifying that a plant grown from a seed will bear fruit just as well as one obtained by cuttings. The only difference is that the seeds need more careful care and more time.
A tree grown from a stone has higher characteristics. The fruits are much larger and sweeter, and immunity is several times stronger. However, when grapes are at the sprout stage, they need more care and attention. It runs the risk of becoming easy prey for parasites that are activated in the spring. At this point, a thorough inspection and preventive disinfection is necessary, which should be carried out on a regular basis in order to avoid infection. If you failed to save the plant, and it received serious damage, then this will greatly affect the quantity and quality of the berries.
Variety choice
Choosing the right variety should come primarily from your personal preferences. It is important to consider why you need the fruits. Different varieties have completely different characteristics in terms of taste and durability.
So, it must be borne in mind that the berries that will be used for canning differ in their qualities from those used for fresh consumption.
The next, no less important condition is the resistance of a particular variety to natural changes. If you live in an area where the land is rather dry and infertile, and the temperature is very high for most of the year, then you should pay attention to varieties designed for arid areas. If your region boasts moist soil and abundant rainfall, then your choice should be based on these characteristics. Do not forget about frost resistance, as severe cold can simply kill a young plant. The variety you choose should ideally cope with frost. The variety list is extremely wide and varied. You will literally find the right grape that will meet all your requirements from skin color to size.
Selection and preparation of material
To prepare the necessary seeds, take a bunch, carefully clean it of all impurities and wrap it in a cloth, preferably of natural origin. Choose healthy specimens that are free of rot or mold. Otherwise, you will have to throw away the berries after a few days, as they will start to leak and give off an unpleasant smell of dampness. You will not receive seeds from such material, or you will prepare low-quality material that will not sprout.
Place the bag with the blank in a dark, dry and cool place, do not leave it in the scorching sun, as the contents may die. Periodically look at the result of your drying. After you are satisfied with the condition of the fruits, remove them from the fabric and separate the seeds from the berries. This is very simple to do, but it is important not to damage the seeds themselves.
Carefully sort through the resulting material. Black, dry and empty seeds are unsuitable for planting and further fruiting. For an accurate check, put them in a saline solution. Those that are infertile will very quickly float to the surface of the water.
You should immediately get rid of them, since there is no result and no benefit. The remaining seeds are soaked in water and sent for stratification.
Main stages
To properly plant grapes at home, you need to follow a few simple procedures.. It is not difficult to germinate seeds at home or in an apartment, it is best to plant the resulting seedlings in the country, as there is enough space for the vine to fully grow.
You need to start by harvesting the necessary seeds. To do this, you can use the fruits of your favorite variety. Thus, you will receive the amount of source material you need. The main thing is to take a healthy and fully developed source for harvesting, only from this you get good material for sowing.
Stratification will help treat the seeds and increase the percentage of germination. Thanks to this procedure, the crop will become richer several times, and the bush itself will be stronger and healthier.
Seedlings need proper care. To maintain healthy growth, it is necessary to maintain a constant temperature and humidity level. Before planting, sprouts should be hardened so that they adapt to external conditions.
The last step will be transplanting into open ground. Grapes must be strong enough to survive even adverse weather conditions.
Stratification
Stratification is a process that stimulates growth and allows them to emerge faster. Unlike the material that has undergone stratification, the material that has not passed sprouts several times worse, this phenomenon can be observed on our own example.
For the procedure, river sand is used. It must be washed and evenly distributed in a baking dish. It is recommended to use a large iron pan. Put it in the oven to sanitize. Then let it cool and pour it through a sieve, so you get rid of all large particles and lumps of debris.
Pour the finished substrate into the box. Sprinkle the seeds with sand and cover with agrofilm or glass. If you do not have river sand available, then you can use dry moss. It has similar antiseptic properties and allows you to increase the productivity of seeds. Therefore, it will serve as a worthy alternative.
After that, put the container in a cool place for several months. It can be either a basement, a refrigerator, a balcony, or a terrace. Check seeds periodically to prevent mold. Although this happens very rarely, to prevent this from happening, the room must be dry, without access to moisture.
Care of seedlings
After the seeds have passed all the stages, it is time to plant them in separate containers. Or you can put them in a common container, but they should be at a distance of 5 centimeters. This distance is not recommended to be violated due to the fact that the sprouts will interfere with each other during growth.
Pour small pebbles into the bottom of the vessels. Then add pre-prepared land. It consists of black soil and sand. It will retain moisture, preventing the plants from wilting.
Burying the seeds is shallow, just 1 cm is enough. Then maintain a constant temperature and humidity. Sprouts react sharply to any changes in the external environment.
In the spring, it is necessary to take the seedlings to fresh air in order to harden the plant. The pot is left outside for no longer than 20 minutes, otherwise there is a risk of freezing the plant.
Landing in open ground
Before planting, it is necessary to prepare fertile soil. It is recommended to add a little sand and fertilizer to the black soil. They can be either mineral or organic. Pour the prepared soil into a capacious pot, where you will plant the seeds. Keep a distance between holes. It is undesirable to keep more than 3-4 seeds in one pot, as they will interfere with each other in the future. After sowing, thoroughly moisten the ground with water, but do not overdo it, as rot or mold will attack the seeds. Sprouts must be kept in the house until the end of spring, otherwise the vine will be affected by various microorganisms.
The grown sprouts are taken outside at the end of May, when there is no risk of frost. During the summer, the plant manages to significantly stretch in growth up to several meters. With the onset of autumn, the grapes are transplanted into open ground. This should be done very carefully, as you risk damaging the fragile root system. It is worth planting only healthy and strengthened bushes. A diseased plant with a high probability will not survive the winter and will die. Hardening before transplantation is a mandatory process, without which the plant will not be able to take root.
