I have nine grape vines that I'm going to plant as soon as it stops raining. Can I assume that I should follow the same advice that Howard gives for planting trees, shrubs, etc ? i.e. wide, ugly hole; only dirt back in the hole; no branch or root pruning; compost and mulch on surface... The nursery that I bought the vines from recommends root pruning and vine pruning to the first joint when I plant the vines. But they aren't organic....they recommend some nasty fungicides and insecticides.

Any recommendations from you that have had success with grapes in heavy clay soil?

Thanks,

Dave in Denton

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1452&highlight=grape+vines

Ck the topic above, should help!

Interesting thought.... are any of the North Texas wineries going organic? Hadn't really thought about what's in the wine we drink.

This would be good info, most of my recipes begin with "Pour 6 oz of fine red wine, add to cook".

We spend several weeks per year in Italy for business and from the north to the south they grow grapes (seemingly) anywhere there isn't an olive grove. Let us know what works for you! My next door neighbor's have grape vines on the other side of the fence from my compost pile and those vines are the only ones that have taken off for them

Chuck, It must be your compost pile, with the soldier flies, that is doing the trick for your neighbors grapes.