Starting A Grape Vine – A Long Term Project.

As with many plants the way a grape vine is planted is critical for the success of the plant in the future.It should be remembered that a grape vine can live and fruit for in excess of 30 years,so some extra care and attention to details when planting with pay dividends later.

The Garden Advice team have created a few notes which should help you produce a first class grapevine.

1. Choosing a vine – If possible make sure you choose one that’s already shown sight of flowering and fruiting.

2. Plant with lots of organic mater ideally garden compost or leaf mould from a broadleaved forest floor.

3. Train 4 stems for each vine plant horizontally along wines or along a roof in a glasshouse.This helps the grapes form fruiting spurs.

4. Cut back summer foliage and water shoots in July to produce a strong network of fruiting spurs along the stems.

5. Tar wash the vine in the winter to kill any overwintering pests and fungal spores.

6. Treat your vine in the Summer and Spring with Bordeaux Mixture.

7. Watering – Aim to keep the compost or soil Constantly moist not to dry and not to wet as the grapes form in May and June.