How to Grow Frontenac

Plant Frontenac grapes in the early spring or in the fall. Choose a high spot, if possible, to allow the coldest air to drain away from the plant, and be sure the plant will receive full sun and the soil has proper drainage. Measure the area to figure the number of Frontenac vines to plant. Plant Frontenac vines about 9 feet apart and provide 10 feet of space between rows. For a home vineyard, reduce row and plant spacing by half for maximum grape yield. Test the soil to determine if it falls within the necessary 6.0 to 6.5 pH range, and add limestone if needed to increase acidity. Frontenac grapes prefer loamy or sandy soil.

Dig a hole 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep. Replace some of the loose soil from the hole so that the nursery container rim is even with the top of the hole. Grasp the nursery container with one hand and the base of the grapevine with the other and turn the container over to release the vine.

Put the Frontenac vine into the hole and visually check to make sure the top of the hole is even with the base of the plant. While holding the plant centered in the hole with one hand, use your hand or the shovel to push dirt back into the hole until the plant is firmly seated. Finish filling the hole with soil, using only enough dirt to keep the plant buried at the same level it was in the container.

Water the Frontenac vine. Once the water is absorbed and the soil settles, add more soil, if necessary, to keep the base of the vine level with the ground. Like other grape varieties, Frontenac does not like wet feet. Water regularly so that the soil stays evenly moist, but not wet.

Mulch the plant to help retain moisture and prevent weeds. Apply a thick, 4- to 6-inch layer of mulch around the base of the plant.

Choose the strongest stem on the vine and gently tie that stem to the trellis or other support system. Prune away other stems and shoots.

Do not fertilize newly planted Frontenac vines until the plants are firmly established in the ground. Use a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 to fertilize the vines three times per year. Spread fertilizer around the vine, but not against the base of the plant. Retest the soil in two years to determine what nutrients the plant may need.

Prune the grapevine every year during the dormant spring season, when all danger of frost has passed, using clippers or other cutting tools. Although what and how to prune the vines depends entirely on which method of trellising and training you do, the goal of pruning is to maintain the plant's shape, encourage new growth and ensure proper air and light circulation. Cut back all one-year-old canes, leaving no more than five nodes per spur. Make sure the spurs are evenly spaced.

Prepare young vines for winter once the ground begins to freeze. Lay young vines on the ground and cover the entire plant with 1 to 2 feet of mulch to protect it. Place a thick layer of mulch around the base of older, established vines that cannot be removed from the trellis. This layer protects the roots and base of the Frontenac.

Look for grape production to begin in the third year of cultivation. Frontenac grapes ripen in August and September, but may need to stay on the vines for awhile before the acid content drops. The best way to tell if grapes are ready to harvest is to taste one. To harvest, support the grape cluster with one hand and use small clippers to cut the stem with the other.