[Crops 101] How To Sow & Harvest Grapes

Welcome to your next "Crops 101" lesson of the Farming Simulator Academy! This time, we're growing grapes and creating our own vineyard. Grapes work quite differently from most other crops, so let's take a closer look!

Note: The video tutorial shows Farming Simulator 22 footage, but most of the game mechanics still work the same way.

What Is Special About Grapes?

• Unlike most crops, grapes aren't sown or planted with a machine. Instead, you place rows of grape vines in build mode.
• Since the rows are narrow, you'll also need specialized vineyard equipment to take care of them.
• Once established, you don't have to plant them again every year. After harvesting, simply prune the vines so they're ready for the next season.

What You Need For Grapes

Because you'll be working between narrow rows of vines, grapes require some specialized machinery. Here's what you'll need for your vineyard:

• Tractor: Use a suitably narrow tractor to operate the tools between the rows.
• Subsoiler: Loosen and cultivate the soil between the grape vines.
• Mulcher: Cut back the grass growing between the rows.
• Sprayer: Apply liquid fertilizer to improve the yield of your grapes.
• Grape harvester: Harvest the ripe grapes from the vines.
• Leaf cutter: Prune the vines after harvesting to prepare them for the next year.
• Trailer: Transport your harvested grapes to a selling point or production facility.

Let's Get To Work!

Start by choosing a suitable place for your vineyard. If seasonal growth is enabled, remember that you can only place grape vines between March and May.

Step 1: Placing grape vines

Open build mode and go to the "Production" tab. Select the "Orchards" section, where you'll find grape vines alongside olive groves.

• Select grapes and click on free space to place the first pole.
• Then drag the row across the area and click again to place the second pole.
• For the next row, move the cursor away from the first one until the silhouette appears again. This shows you the minimum distance at which another row can be placed.
• Continue placing rows until your vineyard is large enough.

Step 2: Cultivating the field

Attach the narrow subsoiler to your tractor and drive between the rows of vines. Lower the tool into the ground and cultivate one row after another. Take your time when turning so you don't get caught on the vines.

This tutorial explains the different soil-working tools in more detail.

Step 3: Mulching the ground

After cultivating, grass will eventually begin to grow between the vines again. That's when it's time to use the mulcher. Attach it to your tractor, lower it, turn it on, and drive through each row to cut the grass back. Mulching keeps the vineyard tidy and helps you avoid the yield penalty caused by grass growing between the vines.

Want to learn more about mulching?

Step 4: Applying fertilizer

Fertilizing improves the yield of your grapes. Buy liquid fertilizer from the pallets section of the shop, attach the vineyard sprayer to your tractor, and refill it. Drive carefully between the vines, turn on the sprayer, and cover each row. For full fertilization, apply fertilizer a second time after the vines have advanced by one growth stage.

Need more details on fertilizer types and their application?

Step 5: Harvesting the grapes

When the grapes are ripe, it's time to bring out the special grape harvester. With seasonal growth enabled, make sure to harvest them before they've withered in November.

Unfold the harvester, turn it on, and position it in front of the first row. The vines pass through the center of the machine, so line it up carefully before you start moving. Drive straight along the row and continue until the harvester's tank needs to be emptied.

Step 6: Selling the grapes

Drive the harvester up to your trailer and position its rear unloading side above it. Start overloading to transfer the grapes into the trailer. Check the prices screen to find a suitable selling point and deliver your harvest there. Alternatively, take the grapes to a production facility if you want to process them instead of selling them directly.

Step 7: Preparing for the next harvest

You don't need to place new grape vines after every harvest. Instead, the existing vines have to be pruned so they can produce grapes again the following year. Once the leaves have turned yellow, attach the leaf cutter to the front of your tractor. Unfold it, turn it on, and carefully drive between the rows to prune the vines.

Processing Grapes: Products

Instead of selling grapes directly, you can process them into grape juice or raisins. Processed products can be sold for additional income, while raisins can also be used in the cereal factory.

Well Done!

Congratulations! You now know the basics of growing and harvesting grapes in Farming Simulator. When you're ready, continue with the next Farming Simulator Academy lesson!