This basic guide for beginners covers almost all aspects of grape cultivation right from varieties and sowing to harvesting and yield. It also covers grape uses, health benefits, varieties, and nutrition value of grape fruits.

Grapes are true berries. The fruit wall (pericarp) is fleshy throughout. Fruit can be green, red, and deep purple.A grape crop is a deciduous woody vine belonging to the flowering plant genus vitis. 

Varieties: 

For Dry Area

For making raisins: Thompson Seedless, Black Sahebi

For raw eating: Thompson Seedless, Beauty Seedless, Black Sahebi, Anab-e-Shahi, Thompson Seedless: Bunches are big, equal sized grape, the grape is medium long, green color fruits turn golden at maturity, fruit is seedless, hard and good taste, late maturing variety.

Varieties cultivated in different regions of India.

Regions

States

Region - Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh,

(Northern India) Rajasthan

Telangana & Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh

Varieties cultivated

Thompson Seedless, Perlette, Beauty Seedless, Anab-e-Shahi, Black Hamburg, Black Prince, Dakh, Foster's seedling, Kandhari, Khalili, Pandhari Sahebi, Watham Cross, Pusa Seedless, Hur, Black Muscat, Early Muscat, Banquiabyad, Cardinal, Kairon,

Season  Of planting/Sowing : 

The best season for planting the rooted cuttings of cultivated varieties in the main field

is September-October whereas for rootstocks it is February-March.

Best Planting Time : 

• Between February and March for north India.

• Between November and January for peninsular India. 

• Between December and January for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. 

Grape cultivation is generally not done during monsoon. Grape plant begins to grow 10-15 days after planting. Grape growth starts earlier in warm season than in cold season.  

Just a month after planting, the plants require staking and training.  

Spacing :  

Transplanting of prepared root cutting is done in December to January month.

Spacing:

By Knifing method, use spacing of 3mX3m and by arbour method use spacing of 5m X 3m. For Anab-e-Shahi variety, use a spacing of 6m X 3m.

Sowing depth:

Cuttings are planted at the depth of 1m.

Irrigation : 

After pruning in the 1st fortnight of

February - One irrigation

First week of March - One irrigation

After fruit set in April till 1st week

of May - At 10 days interval

During the rest of May - Weekly interval 

June - 3 or 4 days interval

July to October - Irrigate when prolonged dry spell or rainfall is in sufficient

November to January - One irrigation if soil gets extremely dry

• Irrigation practices vary considerably in different regions of India depending upon the rainfall pattern, time of pruning, different growth stages, water-holding capacity of soil, variety grown, training system followed and spacing of vines.

• Irrigation is provided once in every three days in newly planted vineyards by allowing water into a small circular basin of 50 cm. radius. With the increase in growth rate the size of the basin increases to a radius of 2m.

• In case of drip irrigation, only one emitter is placed at the base of the vine. The number of emitters gradually increases to two and then four which are shifted about 30 or 40 cm. away from the stem depending upon the variety and spacing of the vines.

• Heavy irrigation is provided soon after pruning in order to wet the entire root zone thoroughly and induce active growth in the vine. Light irrigation of 50-75mm. (5.0-7.5 L./ha.) is given at an interval of 10-12 days during winter and 5-7 days in

summers.

• In the event of rainfall during that interval, the next irrigation is either omitted or delayed. Irrigation frequency is reduced during anthesis, fruiting stage and also after berry softening to improve fruit quality.

Crop Duration : 

                           3-5 months

Harvesting : 

Harvesting is done when fruits are fully matured

Soil and Climate : 

Soil-

•It is grown in a variety of soil but good fertile soil having pH range of 6.5-8.5 having good water holding capacity is suited best for grape farming.

Well-drained rich loamy soil with a pH of 6.5 - 7.0 with low water table with EC less than 1.0 is congenial for its cultivation.

• The soil depth should be atleast 1 m for proper root development and vine establishment.

• The rootstocks viz., Dogridge and 110 R can be used to overcome the high soil pH, drought and salinity in irrigation water with EC upto 8 m.mhos cm2

Climate -

•Grapes prefer dry humid condition for better growth and yield.

•Areas within the temperature range of 15 to 400C and rainfall lies between 500 and 900 mm are suitable for this crop.

• Rain should not coincide with vine growth after pruning and bunch ripening phase.

• Cloudy weather with high relative humidity, fog and low temperature are not suitable for flowering and fruit set.

·This results in build up of fungal diseases which ultimately leads to loss in yield..

The day time temperature ranging from 200C to 350C is optimum for proper vine growth and establishment.

Fertilizers : 

Soils of vineyard are either heavy clay soils, or sandy loam soils. So, organic mannure  is of high importance. Apply 20 grams urea to just planted vines in March. Repeat in May and July. 

In the second year, follow the below fertilizer schedule: 

• Apply whole FYM (Farm Yard Manure) + superphosphate + half Nitrogen (N) + half Phosphate (K) immediately after pruning. 

• Apply the rest of N and K after setting of fruit in April.

Diseases : 

1.Powdery mildew- Uncinula necator

Symptoms

• Powdery growth mostly on the upper surface of the leaves.

• Malformation and discolouration of affected leaves

Management

•Spray Inorganic sulphur 0.25 % or Chinomethionate 0.1% or Dinocap 0.05%.

•Spray 0.3% Wettable sulphur or dust Sulphur @ 6-12 Kg/ha in the morning hours to control the fungus.