Topic: Grapes

[Delilah]

Last year we replaced our old 6x8 ft greenhouse with one twice the size given to us by an elderly relative.

Now we've got our plot was wondering about putting the old greenhouse down there and growing an indoor grape.

would it need to be heated over winter?
any suggestions on good grape variety, seedless?

any other information regarding rapes would be brill as I am totally in the dark here!

[glow777]

I've got one in my greenhouse/shed.

They survive the winter no problem (even in Buxton) and can be grown outside tho the grapes won't be as sweet, but they do need plenty of water. If possible grow them against a wall so the roots go outside and can find rain water.

Mines only young but some of the others are massive and without cutting back can take over the greenhouse.

There are also techniques for thinning the bunches to make bigger grapes but I am sure there are people in here that will give you better advice on this than me.

My grape vine cost 99p from Morrisons because it looked dead but after being put in a bucket of water pirked up! Cuttings are also good.

HTH
Ian

[Jesse]

I saw some advertised in a catalogue yesterday, a white almost seedless desert variety, was tempted to buy...will have to see if I can squeeze another plant into my conservatory (no greenhouse).

[jennym]

You don't need to grow them inside -  I have one on my allotment. But a little protection may do no harm.

There are some links to info here:

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,12505.msg116421.html#msg116421
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1100/grape_pruning.asp

hope this helps.

[Jesse]

My garden is mostly shady that's why I though indoors would be better. But I could put some on the allotment :)

[derbex]

Hey Jennym,

guess what - I'm in Essex, just north of the M25 too :)

I'm thinking about a grape -what variety(ies) do you grow?

Jeremy

[busy_lizzie]

As soon as we had a greenhouse built at the lottie 18 months ago we planted a grape vine.  It is a red variety, sorry can't remember the name now, and is also from Morrison's and was really cheap.  We planted it outside and it grows through  into the greenhouse. It has grown really well and has spread up towards the ceiling now where we have supported it.  Last year we were thrilled to get these  little red grapes which were so sweet.  Hoping to do even better this year, so even in the cold North East they seem to grow well.   busy_lizzie

[Merry Tiller]

Phoenix is a good one, you can eat the grapes or use them for wine

[jennym]

I grow black grape Baco 1. just like Merry Tillers grape, it is multi purpose (but the Baco 1 grapes are not very large).
No protection given - it is grown on the back of a shed which faces south.

[Merry Tiller]

Phoenix grapes aren't that big but you get plenty of them

[cleo]

Well Delilah-for me it`s Black Hamburgh as a reliable black variety indoors-don`t plant it outside the house and train in-that`s a long gone myth.

It`s reliable,crops well and has some flavour-maybe not the best but still a good one.

[Svengali]

I live near the coast in Cumbria. The soil is basically sand, poor in nutrients, but weed growth is prolific. We get severe winds. Is it possible to grow outdoor grapes (for wine), and if so, what variety should I try?