PLANT A GRAPEVINE

You don’t need a lot of space to grow your own sweet fruits

Grapes are a luxury crop worth growing. If they don’t ripen fully they can be used for wine or juice but the prospect of picking your own sweet fruits makes them worth a try and they don’t need a lot of room. That said, they can take up a lot of space if allowed to run riot. So think about how you’ll train them, be rigorous with pruning and they can be productive and still kept in a small space.

Early-ripening kinds are best in our climate and the old but delicious Muscat types suit a cool greenhouse. There are black, white and seedless varieties that can be grown outside but need a sheltered, sunny site. A warm patio is ideal but, for a more reliable crop, can also be grown in a polytunnel or cold greenhouse.

Traditionally, grapes were planted outside a greenhouse and trained inside but this was to allow a large area for the roots, which was fertilised and kept clear of vegetation. This isn’t necessary for a small vine and they can be planted in a greenhouse. Grapes can even be grown in pots as long as they’re always kept watered and fed. A lack of water will cause poor fruiting and mildew in summer. 4

Old stems must only be pruned when dormant. Prune the new vine back to one or two buds, according to how many main shoots you need.