The Best Soil for Grapevines

Growing your own grapes can be a rewarding and exciting undertaking. Before beginning the process, it is important to recognize that grapes require certain types of soil to ensure that the grapes you produce are of the best quality.

Proper Drainage

• When selecting a place for growing your own grapes, be sure to locate a spot that is well-drained and is largely free of standing pools of water, to ensure that the plants do not become waterlogged and that your vines will grow early and strong.

Proper pH

• It is also important that you determine the pH level of your soil before planting grapes. Although grapes do not require especially rich soils (since this may cause the vines to grow quickly while reducing the quality of the fruit,) they do require soils that have a pH between 5.5 and 7.0, according to E.P. Boling, a horticulturist at North Carolina State University.

Soil Location

• Choosing the proper environment for your plants is crucial for ensuring that they are able to flourish in the early stages of growth. Since the fruit requires warmth and direct sunlight to ripen properly, it is best that you plant them on the southern portion of buildings or hills and that you protect them from frost or harsh winds.