Potting mix for grapes

[reed]

I have 50 grape vines on the way later this month, 36 of which will be potted to sell at the market and depending on weather the others may need temporarily potted till I can get them planted.  Any suggestions on good mix to put them in, (without buying anything).

I have available and use this for most things: *Ohio River sand and silt collected from boat ramps after high water, *regular garden compost with a little chicken poo, *partially composted leaves and small twigs from black locust trees. 

Also what pot size should I use? I would like to get by with one gallon but afraid that might be too small if they don't sell this year and I need to keep them till next year. They are one year rooted cuttings. 

[coppice]

I use 1/2 gran-i-grit* and 1/2 pine bark mulch with about 1 tablespoon of osmocoat per 10 gallons of soil.

Sand and bark mulch will also work. I would not use organic fines like compost or loess in a pot with woody plants who might live a long time in pots.

* gran-i-grit is a poultry scratch

If you have them in pots and they have grown roots out the bottom, you may need to pot up the next year.

[reed]

Thanks, sounds like if I substitute my leaves and twigs for the bark and mix with some of the more gritty river sand it should work. I am really in hopes it dries enough that I can just go ahead and plant the ones I'm keeping.

If I do have to put mine in pots I'm guessing it would probably be better to leave them until fall or even next spring?

[coppice]

Reed crab apple and Japan maple (as bonsai) talk to me. I have however kept grape in pots that were propagated for both arbor and bonsai.

You are welcome to run your own learning curve. I found that the deal with woody plant in pots--particularly in shallow pots, that the rubber hits the road as how well soil admits air, and not how well soil holds water.

Some bonsai hobbyists use no organic material at all. Preffering instead to water more often and supply all fertilizer as liquid spray on.

The ideal time to root prune and repot is spring.