Grape by nature is a deciduous fruit crop, growing extensively in temperate regions. Not even five decades ago grape cultivation was considered to be a non-viable proposition in the tropics. However, now because of the extensive research efforts, the world’s highest productivity (96 tonnes/ha) has been recorded from the tropical region of the country and more than 90% of the area under grapes in India in this region.

In India grape cultivation is mainly concentrated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan.

Grape is a subtropical fruit that grows well in dry summer. The vines shed their leaves and rest in winter, put forth new growth in spring and mature in summer. Grape does not thrive in regions having humid summers. It tolerates frost during the resting period, but succumbs to it readily during its growing period. Grape cultivation is unique in India and is grown under temperate, subtropical and tropical climatic conditions. In the north, where grape is cultivated mainly in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, it grows and fruits once a year in summer, and rests during winter. In western and southern India, where it is cultivated mainly in Maharashtra, Hyderabad-Deccan, parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the vine grows throughout the year and bears two crops, the first in April and the second in August-September.

The grape grown best on light, friable loamy soils with free drainage. Heavy soils are unsuitable.

Viticultural practices and the cropping pattern are divided into 3 distinct systems, single pruning and single cropping system, double and single cropping and double pruning and double cropping system, under different agro-climatic conditions.

The vine is usually propagated by cuttings. Of late, due to some soil-borne problems, such as nematodes, soil salinity and drought, use of rootstocks has been felt essential. Research carried out at the IIHR, Bangalore indicates that Rootstock 1613 (nematode resistant) is well compatible with Anab-e-Shahi, without any reduction in fruit yield or quality.

Wider spacing was followed for grapevines in the past and it was associated with long pre-bearing period, spent in the development of permanent framework. The role of close planting in overcoming this problem was realized and as a result of which, spacing is reduced to 3 m x 4.5 m from 3.5 m x 7.0 m for Anab-e-Shahi and Bangalore Blue and to 1.2 m x 1.8 m from 3.0m x 3.0 m for Thompson Seedless. However, too close planting of 1.2 m x 1.8 m hampered the fruit-bud fertility and fruit quality due to overcrowding of the shoots and poor light interception. A cane density of 60 was found optimum for a bower area of 10 m². Therefore, the popular spacing in Maharashtra vineyards for Thompson Seedless and its derivatives is 1.8 m x 2.4 m or 1.2 m x 3.6 m. In northern India, cuttings are made from one-year-old wood at the time of pruning in February, when the vines are dormant. The cuttings are tied in bundles and stored in moist sand for about a month for callusing. The callused cuttings start well in the nursery. Elsewhere in India, they are obtained from the pruning in October and planted in nursery for rooting. The cutting is ready for transplanting in January. It is also possible to raise a plantation by planting cuttings in situ in the field.

For the system of training, bower was found the most appropriate one and was associated with highest productivity. This training system offers scope to develop canes up to the rate of 10 canes/m², which is required to obtain 50 tonnes/ha at the prevailing bunch: cane ratio of 1.0. With the technique to obtain as high as 3 bunches/cane, efforts have now shifted to less-expensive Geneva Double Curtain and Y trellises to obtain more ventilated and more illuminated vine canopies. However, more than 80% of the area under grapes is still covered by bower grapevine training.

The grapevine should be regularly irrigated. It is necessary to regulate the water supply care fully both when the vine is in flower and when the bunches are ripening. Too wet a soil during those periods is not desirable. It is recommended to irrigate grapes when soil moisture tension reached 0.5 bar or maintain the available soil moisture at an 80% of the field capacity. Withholding irrigation during 40-70 days after back pruning not only economized water but also increased the yield. Stoppage of irrigation 20 days before harvest did not affect either yield or quality and can be practiced to save water. At present, open pan evaporation is being followed as the basis for scheduling irrigation and drip irrigation is being followed by some growers to tide over the shortage of irrigation water. Replenishment of 50% of the evaporation loss was adequate for Thompson Seedless grape by drip irrigation and to economize the water by 40%. Placement of emitters 60 cm away from the stem on either side was found suitable for vines spaced at 1.8 m x 2.4 m or 1.5 m x 3.0 m. Drip irrigation helps in minimizing the adverse effects of irrigation with saline water when compared with surface irrigation.

In addition to the farmyard manure (25 to 30 kg), a dose supplying 0.07 to 0.09 kg of N, 0.54 to 0.57 kg of p and 0,125 to 0.16 kg K per vine at pruning is recommended. Green-manuring may be done whenever feasible. In India, it had been a common practice to apply massive doses of fertilizers as high as 2,000-3,000 kg each of N, P₂O₅ and K₂O/ha irrespective of the need of the grapevines. However, long term experiments carried out at the IIHR have revealed that a dose comprising 500 kg N, 500 kg P₂O₅ and 1,000 kg K₂O/ha/year for Anab-e-Shahi and of 300 kg N, 500 kg P₂O₅ and 1,000 kg K₂O/ha/year for Thompson Seedless is optimum.

1. The cuttings for planting should be selected from one-year-old dormant wood from healthy bearing vines.
2. Pruning of the vines should be regulated to suit the hearing habit of each variety. The timing of pruning should be so regulated as to avoid the vines coming into blossom when the days are characterized by duffel
3. A portion of the berries at the tip of each bunch may be thinned to ensure a better development of the bunch as well as to ensure more effective spraying against diseases.

The fruit is ready for picking after the berries near the tip have changed colour and have become sweet. The picked fruit should not be exposed to the sun and, if it is to be sent to a distant market, it should be packed in sawdust. According to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, ICAR, Government of India, in 1999-2000, grapes harvested from vines treated with hydrogen cynamide in October pruning did not have detectable residues and were safe for human consumption.