Yes, it's normal. It is the best way to ship plants like that so that they don't lose moisture and die in transit. (and it costs less to ship without soil) Most mail order plants come with planting and handling instructions inside. Did yours?

This is exactly the way my cynthiana grape plants arrived 3 years ago. A couple sticks with some roots at the end, moisture protected. I looked at them pretty skeptically.

Today, I have big healthy vines, with lots of grape bunches forming nicely.

IIRC, the shipping package included instructions to soak the roots for 30 minutes, maybe an hour, before planting. I watered every few days the first months until the roots were established in the ground.

Agree! I have no clue where zone 6B is. I'm in 9B.

I started my little vineyard bare root. Not all vines made it in our 115 degree summers, but most did. I pruned, and took cuttings, and now have new vines to plant this year. It's hard to kill a grapevine. They all go dormant in the winter, and they all lose their leaves. Best time to dig them up, and protect for planting the next year. They shipped you a living vine, so your big job is to follow their instructions and plant it. Hopefully your danger of frost is gone?

I agree, keep that vine watered, and it doesn't hurt to spray the buds either. You don't want the buds to dry out. If you don't know what a bud is, it looks like a bump on the side of the stick. It might be light tan, but when it's ready to burst a shoot, it will get sort of white and fuzzy, and you will see a hint of chartreuse green! That is the moment vineyard owners live for! We call it bud break!

Inside that bud is magic! That teeny thing holds the growth of a cane, a ton of leaves, AND a flower cluster. Be sure you get rid of the flower cluster. A new vine needs to get it's roots established, and grapes will take the energy of the vine away from the growth, and you NEED growth for a couple years. After that, enjoy the fruit of your labor!

Good luck to you!
Suzi

Well, that's good to know it's normal. I would have thought by this time it would have some green, since everything else in my garden is growing.

It did come with a catalog with general instructions for many items, but I couldn't find anything specific for what I got.

But I dug a nice big hole, and mixed about 1/3 compost in with the regular soil. Then I buried it and watered it in well. I've got a trellis set up for it too.

I didn't soak it beforehand, I hope that isn't a problem! It is raining all day today though, so hopefully that will help. I'll make sure to water it well for the next few months.

Oh, and I'm zone 6b in the middle of New Jersey by the coast. I got the Glenora grapes because they are supposed to be very cold tolerant and disease resistant.

I'm just growing the one plant basically for decoration in my small yard with an all-edible garden, so no plans on propagating for a vinyard or anything lol.

Thanks all.

Yep, it is totally normal and the best way to go when planting just about any kind of fruit. I still remember the first time I got a bare root plant (raspberries) in the mail. I felt just like you, but my from my experience, bare root plants establish better than potted plants.

It was probably stored in refrigeration to keep it dormant, and that is why it has no green. My grapes are the last thing to wake up in the spring and just broke bud a couple weeks ago. Some of them are still just waking up now.

I have glenora (among the 9 varieties that I currently grow) - it is healthy and VERY vigorous (almost too vigorous). It is pretty much trouble-free in my high desert climate, but may need a little more attention in New Jersey.

Well, please keep us posted when you get bud break! We will cheer for you!!
suzi

I purchased a pair of Catawba grapevines from Home Depot about two months ago. They were identically described above, but came with a little dirt in the bag. These instructions stated to soak 2-3 hrs. I did... Planted each immediately with its own 3' long 2x2 in the back yard. Used Miracle Grow and mushroom compost mix leftover from my garden.

There's nothing around them but grass now. I water them about 4-7 times a week just to wet the dirt. We're already in the 90+ degree range for daily highs.

Shouldn't I see activity? I've bent the twigs slightly to see if it'll break or if it's too dry/dead... it gave a fair amount.

Everything I've touched this year is growing wonderfully, except for these.

Well you all were right! It is growing nicely now. :-)

Here it is on May 23rd (I should have picked the weeds in the back first, and it has a different trellis now, but at least you can see the green buds):

{{gwi:96900}}