Hello! I live in PA and need to transplant grapes ASAP. When we moved from our old house, the new occupants said they would call us if they were going to uproot the vines. They're uprooting them this weekend to throw away, in 4 days (Today is 10/16). I got the call today. I planted the vines in 2002 from a little branch and they are now going to be pretty cumbersome to move. . .they're all wound around a trellis and are somewhat thick. They have produced fruit since 2003. My husband thinks I'm nuts to go out and rescue them, along with the trellis (which could fit in an SUV), and is convinced that the vines will just die if we move them now. I called a tree service for help but the person who answered said that grape roots are so close to the surface, I could probably transplant them myself. Any advice? Sorry for the wordy plea!! And I believe I read on this forum that fall WOULD NOT be a bad time to transplant?
Hi Jenny. I am new to this grape vine issue but what I have read so far and come to understand is that grape vine are very resileant and hardy. I would advise giving them a chance. If you do not then you will wounder for the rest of you life (maybe, mayby not) " the what if..." Nothing ventured nothing gained so go for it girl. It can't hert. Ken from Spokane Washington
Jenny, How did it work out? I am asking for reasons that are similar to your predicament. I have young grape vines in pots that I nurtured all summer hoping to plant them before fall. Hope sprung eternal but, the vines are still in pots as of now. I am wondering if they will survive the winter months in the post on a covered porch or do I need to consider bringing them indoors to the garage till next spring....Any thoughts out there?
A porch leaves them very vulnerable to freezing as the cold air can get to all surfaces of the pot. Best would be buried, at least to the level of the pot with a couple of feet of straw or leaf mulch, and often the vine is buried as well. We're not as cold as you, but I bury mine in sand to a depth of about 6" if I have to leave them in a pot over the winter. The garage would be OK, but only if it is unheated, and move them out when the danger of hard frost is past, otherwise they might bud out too early and be damaged in a late frost. Ralph
