Thompson Seedless Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Thompson Seedless'
fruitThompson Seedless is the worlds best-known table grape and the classic raisin grape, producing long clusters of small pale-green berries that turn golden when fully sun-ripened. The Vitis vinifera variety is sweet, crisp, and seedless, making it the gold standard for fresh eating, drying, and homemade raisins.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 5 days
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Harvest
~24 months
to first harvest
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Difficulty
medium
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
↔️
Spacing
8 ft in row, 10 ft between rows
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Planting Depth
Same depth as nursery; bud union just above soil
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Soil pH
6.0-6.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Average, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 6 – 10
When to Fertilize
Light feed in early spring as buds swell
Fertilizer
10-10-10 at 2 oz per vine in planting year, then by soil test
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant in full sun on deep well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 7 to 10; Thompson needs a long warm growing season and does poorly in cool damp climates. Set vines 8 ft apart in rows 10 ft apart with the crown at the same depth as the nursery. Train to a 2-wire trellis with the lower wire at 3 ft and the top wire at 5.5 ft. Prune hard each winter to a four-cane Kniffin system or a single cordon; Thompson is prone to overcropping, which reduces sugar.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Aug 23 · Year 3
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Year 1
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Hyssop: Improves grape vine vigor and may help repel cabbage moths and aphids
- Chives: Sulfur compounds may suppress fungal disease pressure around the trunk
- Yarrow: Hosts predatory wasps and hoverflies that hunt leafhoppers and mealybugs
- White Clover: Living mulch in the aisles that fixes nitrogen and supports beneficial insects
❌ Keep away from
Cabbage
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Open canopy with summer leaf-pulling around fruit zones, weekly sulfur sprays during humid weather, and full-sun siting
Grape berry moth
Hang pheromone traps to time controls; remove cluster-feeding larvae by hand
Hand-pick into soapy water; floating row cover when feasible
Rake fallen leaves and mummies, prune for airflow, and apply protective fungicides at bloom and post-bloom in wet years
🌾 Harvest & storage
Thompson Seedless ripens in September. Sample berries before harvest; grapes do not ripen after picking, so wait for full sweetness. Cut whole clusters with pruners; bunches keep in the fridge for 1 to 2 weeks. To make raisins, lay clusters in a single layer on screens in the sun for 2 to 3 weeks, or dehydrate at 135F for 24 to 36 hours.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
About 69 calories per 100 g with 0.9 g fiber, 4 mg vitamin C, and 191 mg potassium. Thompson Seedless also supplies resveratrol and quercetin, two polyphenols studied for cardiovascular benefits.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.