Grape Planting: How To Start Grape Farming Business

Without a doubt, grapes are one of the tastiest fruits in most countries. Therefore, investing in fruit cultivation is a completely profitable alternative, as the grape is sold not only for fresh consumption but also as a base for wines, juices and jellies. 

Therefore, today, we’ve provided you with a complete step-by-step guide to starting a fruit plantation and entering a completely profitable area of ​​agribusiness.

Discover the origin of the grape

The grape is, above all, a fruit that comes from the vine, a plant from the Vitáceae family, characterized by a twisted trunk, large leaves divided into pointed lobes and a flexible branch. In this way, the grapes develop in bunches, which can contain between 15 and 30 fruits and have a diverse color, capable of varying between purple, green, yellow, red, dark blue and even black.

Why invest in grape cultivation?

Several points prove that investing in grape plantations is a good business. One of the main ones is that the fruit is consumed throughout the year globally, which makes its market stable. Furthermore, the grape has a wide variety of trade, and can be consumed fresh or used in the production of juices, jellies, wines and other foods.

1- Know the varieties and choose the most suitable one

In fact, grapes are a fruit that has many varieties, however, each of them is best suited for a specific purpose. Below, we briefly mention the most popular species.

Vine

Originally from Europe, the vine is best suited for the production of fine wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. With the exception of Uva Itália, most of this type of grape is not recommended for fresh consumption.

Thompson Grape

Characterized by not having seeds, the Thompson Grape can be consumed fresh or used to make raisins and wines.

American Grape

With North American origin, this variety can be consumed fresh or used to make the most popular juices and wines.

Tropical grape

Originating from the cross between Golia (Vitis riparia) and Vitis cinérea, the tropical grape develops early and is more resistant to pests. An excellent alternative for growing in clayey and sandy soils.

Anyway, now that you know a little more about grape varieties, you need to consider the climatic conditions of your region, taking into account the fact that species cultivated for wine production adapt better in places with mild temperatures, while the others develop better in warm places.

2- Select the seeds

After choosing which type of grape to plant, it’s time to look for the seeds. In this case, for professional cultivation, it is not recommended to plant from seeds taken from bunches. The best option is to choose nursery seeds, which are better prepared and capable of providing more appetizing fruits. Another important issue involves choosing strong seeds, with less possibility of attack by insects and a higher level of resistance.

Well, as soon as you acquire the seeds, place them in damp pots, cover them with substrate and store them in a place with humid and cold conditions to aid the germination process.

3- Create support for the vines

Vines, known as the plants responsible for originating grapes, are characterized by growing in a vine format. Therefore, they need support to curl up as they grow. These supports are normally constructed from wooden fillets. 

It is important that they have a square shape and have vertical and horizontal fillets that are on average 1.50 meters wide and 2 or 3 meters high so that the branches spread out and are not arranged one on top of the other.

4- Plant the seeds

After finishing the construction of supports for the vines, it is time to plant the grape seeds. It is important that this step is carried out carefully, after all, any error can affect your production.

The ideal distance for sowing is at least 5 centimeters. Soon after, it is necessary to cover the seeds with two layers of soil, to help insulate them from external heat. Furthermore, the seeds must be conditioned to a daytime temperature below 20ºC and a nighttime temperature of up to 15ºC.

To reach the appropriate temperature there is the possibility of using artificial environments. Another very important issue is that of the soil, which must be kept moist and free from waterlogging. Seeds begin to sprout 8 weeks after germination.

5- Prune the vines

Unfortunately, not all vines produce fruit in the first year of life, and some species can take up to four years for the first fruit to appear.

However, this process can be accelerated through pruning, which helps in the healthy development of the plant.

Firstly, it is recommended to select the 3 strongest shoots of the vine and let them grow, in the meantime, the others can be pruned. In addition, it is also necessary to remove the flower buds and fertilize the soil so that the nutrients are renewed.

Read Also: How To Start Cucumber Farming Business

6- Harvest

On average, the grapes are ready for harvest between 30 and 70 days after the buds appear, however, the maturation time depends on each variety, as well as the care and temperature. However, the fruit can be considered ripe when its edges soften and the color becomes more intense. The harvesting process must be carried out by cutting the bunches using pliers suitable for this activity.