A friend of mine grows a seedless grape vine that produces the sweetest, dark purple grapes I have ever tasted. My question is how do I start a new vine or vines from a seedless grape?
You are in luck because grape vines are easy to propagate from cuttings. With this method a section of the stem is cut, inserted into a potting medium and new roots sprout from the planted end of the stem. Here is how to do it.
- Take the cutting in early spring while the vine is still dormant.
- Make sure the stem cutting has at least 3 leaf nodes. A node is a slight bump on the stem. Cut the stem right below the bottom node and about 1 inch above the top node.
- Dip the bottom end of the stem in rooting hormone. You can purchase rooting hormone at a garden center or nursery. This step is optional since grapes root easily, but it helps to promote new root growth.
- Insert the stem in a 4 to 6 inch pot filled with sterile potting soil or sand. The stem should be inserted deep enough that the second node from the bottom is at soil level.
- Water and place in a frost free, humid location with bright, indirect light.
- Keep the soil moist, but not soggy.
Move the cutting outdoors after the last frost date in your area. Place it in a shady spot for a week before planting it in a sunny location where you want it to grow. Keep it well watered the first year until it is fully established. As it develops, give the vine some support, such as a trellis or fence.