Grapevines are a rewarding addition to any garden, offering delicious fruit and ornamental beauty. While they might seem intimidating to grow, many varieties are surprisingly beginner-friendly.
Whether you are looking to produce fresh table Grapes, juice, or wine Grape, here are the top 10 easiest Grapevines to grow! Plus helpful tips on how to grow, train, prune, and harvest Grapes.
- Top Beginner-Friendly Grapes
- How To Grow and Train Grape Vines
- Pruning Grapes
- When & How To Harvest Grapes
- Care Tips For Beginners
Top Beginner-Friendly Grapes
Get ready for homemade juice, wine, or preserves, or simply grow an easy conversation piece and shade canopy for your landscape!
Concord Grapes
Famous for its sweet, tangy flavor, the Concord Grape and the Concord Seedless Grape Vines are perfect for fresh eating, juice, and jelly. Hardy and disease-resistant, they thrive in cooler climates. The Concord Blue Grape is a larger vine with blue fruit and a sweet-tart flavor.
- Growing Zones: 5-8
- Mature Height: 12 - 15 feet
- Mature Spread: 10 - 12 feet
- Blue Black Grape
- Sweet Tangy Flavor
- Ripens In September
- Self Pollinating
Concord is highly regarded as a pie Grape and is excellent for fresh eating, jam, and jelly!
Niagara Grapes
A white grape with a sweet, musky taste, Niagara Grape vines are adaptable and vigorous! A hardy native vine, making Niagara perfect for beginners.
- Growing Zones: 5-8
- Mature Height: 15 - 20 feet
- White Grapes
- Abundant Fall Harvest
- Self-Fertile Vines - Larger Harvest With Multiple Plants
- Produces Vigorously - 20 Years & More
Niagara is ideal for juice, fresh eating, and even wine, champagnes, jams, and jellies.
Somerset Seedless Grape Vine
A cold-hardy, early-ripening Grape with medium-sized, sweet, red fruits that grow in dense bunches. They have a strawberry-like flavor that kids love! Somerset is disease-resistant and perfect for fresh eating. But Somerset Seedless Grapes offer an aromatic experience best enjoyed when juiced.
- Growing Zones: 4-8
- Mature Height: 15 - 20 feet
- Medium-Sized Sweet Red Fruit
- Strawberry-Like Flavor!
- Early Ripening
- Cold-Hardy & Disease-Resistant
Reliance Grape Vine
Reliance produces sweet, seedless red grapes that tolerate cold climates well. It's a great choice for fresh eating and desserts. The medium-sized Grapes are ideal for fresh eating because of their thin skins. Plus Reliance is good for drying into raisins.
- Growing Zones: 5-8
- Mature Height: 15 - 20 feet
- Mid-Sized Seedless Grapes
- Sweet Flavor
- Thin Tender Skins Kids Appreciate
Mars Seedless
A seedless blue-black grape with a mild flavor, Mars Seedless is an adaptable, easy to grow vine! It is also disease-resistant and thrives in various conditions, making it a beginner favorite!
- Growing Zones: 5-8
- Mature Height: 12 - 20 feet
- Mature Spread: 4 - 6 feet
- Disease Resistant
- Seedless Blue-Black Fruit
- Mild Sweet Flavor
- Adaptable
Catawba Grape Vine
Known for its red-purple color and sweet, musky flavor, Catawba is used for fresh eating, juice, and wine. It's hardy and grows well in many regions so it's a great beginner Grape vine.
- Growing Zones: 5-7
- Mature Height & Spread: 10 - 15 feet
- Reddish-Purple Fruit
- Sweet Musky Flavor
- Hardy Vine Native To The United States
Canadice Seedless Grapevine
This early-ripening, seedless red grape is perfect for northern climates. Candice Seedless forms compact fruit clusters of firm, sweet grapes that explode with juice. These yummy treats have a hint of spice that makes them ideal for eating fresh! They also make tasty jams and jellies.
- Growing Zones: 3-8
- Mature Height: 12 - 18 feet
- Mature Spread: 10 - 12 feet
- Sweet Seedless Red Grape
- Late Summer Harvest
- Very Cold-Hardy
Himrod Seedless Grape Vine
Himrod is a seedless Grape with a honeyed flavor, Himrod is easy to grow and thrives in cool to warm climates. A yellow-gold fruited variety with long loose clusters of medium-sized berries, Himrod is great for fresh eating. One of the hardiest "white" seedless grapes, this high-quality variety ripens in late August and makes an excellent vine for the home garden.
- Growing Zones: 5-8
- Mature Height: 12 - 18 feet
- Mature Spread: 10 - 12 feet
- Seedless Yellow/Golden “White" Grape
- Honey-Like Flavor
- August Harvest
Southern Home Muscadine Hybrid Grape Vine
A heat-tolerant and humidity-loving Muscadine black grape, the Southern Home Muscadine is perfect for Southern US regions. These beautiful vines are prolific fruit bearers! You will get cluster after cluster of deep purple-black perfectly round tart and sweet Grapes. The Grapes are firm, not mushy, perfect for eating fresh-out-of-hand or for juice.
- Growing Zones: 7-9
- Mature Height: 8 - 10 feet
- Mature Spread: 4 - 5 feet
- Large Round Near-Black Fruit
- Prolific Fruiting
- Sweet-Tart Flavor
Lakemont Grape Vine
A sweet dessert Grape, Lakemont Grape Vines are easy to grow. They produce fruit in large, tight, well-formed clusters. Lakemont has a honeyed rich flavor, great for fresh eating or homemade raisins. The yellow-green "white" fruit is medium-sized, ripens late-season, with thin-skinned and firm-fleshed.
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Mature Height: 12 - 20 feet
- Mature Spread: 4 - 6 feet
- Sweet Taste With Hints of Honey
- Snappy Golden-Yellow Skin & White Flesh
- Seedless White Table Grape
- Late Season Harvest
- Very Good Disease Resistant To Botrytis & Mildew
How To Grow and Train Grape Vines
With the proper knowledge and care, anyone can grow their own Grapes!
Planting
- Location: Plant the vines in a sunny location with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Soil: Grapevines prefer well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5–7.0).
- Watering: Use the Finger Test to keep new vines watered regularly to ensure a strong root system
- Spacing: Space vines 6-10 feet apart in rows 8-10 feet apart for good air circulation.
Training
- Install a strong sturdy trellis, arbor, or fence for the vines to climb.
- During the first year, focus on training one or two main shoots as the trunk.
- Secure shoots to the trellis or support structure with soft ties.
Find More In-Depth Care & Training Here
Pruning Grapes
Proper pruning is crucial for healthy vines and abundant fruit production.
When to Prune: Prune during the dormant season, typically late winter or early spring.
How to Prune:
Always use sharp, sterilized shears when trimming any plant.
- Remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood.
- Leave 2-4 canes from the previous year's growth.
- Trim each cane to about 8-15 buds, depending on the Grape variety.
Summer Maintenance: Remove suckers (unwanted shoots) and thin out dense foliage to improve airflow and sun exposure during the growing season.
When & How To Harvest Grapes
Timing: Most Grapes ripen in late summer to early fall. Harvest times vary depending on the variety and climate.
Signs of Ripeness:
The easiest way is to pluck a Grape off the vine and try it! But other ways to tell include:
- Even color across the entire cluster.
- Sweet taste.
- Firm texture that's not overly soft.
If you waited too long and your Grapes are over-ripe, simply make homemade juice, jam, or jelly!
Harvesting: Use sharp, sterilized pruning shears to cut clusters cleanly from the vine. Avoid pulling or
Care Tips For Beginners!
Don't worry about having a brown thumb! Grapes grow wild in many parts of the US, so you just need to know how to get these plants off on the right foot!
Start Small: Begin with 1-3 vines to get a feel for their care requirements.
Monitor Pests and Diseases: Keep an eye out for pests like Japanese beetles and diseases like powdery mildew. Use organic or chemical treatments as needed.
Mulch and Water: Mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and regulate temperature. Water deeply but infrequently, especially during dry periods.
Transform Your Garden With Easy-to-Grow Grapevines
Grapevines are more than just a source of delicious fruit — they're a beautiful addition to any garden.
The lacy foliage adds interest while you wait for your harvest to grow! The vines can be trained to offer shade, ornamental beauty, plus privacy and screening! Serving as double-duty edible landscaping additions!
With the right variety and care, even beginners can enjoy the satisfaction of homegrown grapes.
Explore the wide selection of beginner-friendly Grapevines at NatureHills.com and start growing your dream vineyard today!
Happy Planting!
