 |
|
|
|
![]()
Growing Grapes - The Delicious Climber!
|
|
The idea of growing grapes might seem too exotic, but changes in climate and developments of new varieties make this delicious climber entirely suitable nowadays for our gardens, balconies and patios. This fruity shrub grows fast and easy on a wall or pergola but can also be grown in a pot.
Suitable Varieties
The word 'Vines' immediately conjures up thoughts of the Mediterranean, but new varieties like 'Blauer Portugieser' (black grape), 'Müller-Thurgau' (white grape) and 'Boskoops Glory' are perfectly adapted to less warm climates and can produce very tasty fruits.
Best Positions
Train Vines on a pergola or a trellis on a south-facing wall to give the best results. The Vine does not like wet, impermeable soil types nor highly acidic soil, and you should ensure regular supplies of organic manure and compost for optimum growth.
When and Where
Before planting improve the soil with manure or compost. Then plant several Vines against a sheltered, sunny wall, about 1.5m apart, or let one plant develop a few leaders. Pot-grown plants can be planted throughout the growing season, while bare-root plants should be planted between October and February.
Prune the plant back after planting and water regularly.
Winter Pruning
Vines must be pruned several times a year. However, never do this at a time when the sap has begun to rise and leaves have not yet begun to develop. Pruning at such a time could cause the plant to 'bleed'. The best time is between December and February. But don't prune during severe frosts. The new shoots develop from the buds on the leaders. These are the shoots that will develop fruits later on in the year. In winter, cut the fruit-bearing shoots back to two to three buds from the leader. The following year a new fruit-bearing shoot will develop. These should all be cut back to three to four cm from the leader, leaving two to three buds to develop.
Spring Pruning
In April all of the buds on the vine will open at once. Do not leave them all to develop into shoots as the plant would then grow very untidy and out of shape. Remove all weak and thin shoots, leaving only the strongest single shoot to develop. This shoot will produce flowers, later to be followed by grapes.
Summer Pruning
In summer prune your Vine again. This is actually a continual tidying up throughout the growing season. Prune the shoots back to the third or fourth leaf after the fruits and remove all suckers. While the fruits are ripening, remove the leaves around the bunch to allow a maximum of sunlight to reach it. For the best desert grapes, thin your bunches by cutting away the small fruits in the centre of the bunch using a special pair of scissors. Leave the 'shoulders' of bunches intact.
For the juiciest, fullest bunches, let only one single bunch per shoot develop. Remove all other fruits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
Subscribe now to receive our newsletter full of garden tips, advice and offers!
Subscribe
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|