Grapevine

[mc55]

Hi all - anyone have any experience of grapevines ?  My stepdad just inherited one along with greenhouse and is unsure whether he should be pruning it, or doing something else to it  ???

Don't have anymore details, but can find out if I know what to ask ...

Tks
mc

[mc55]

[jennym]

Have a look at this link
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,12505.msg116421.html#msg116421
it may help.

[mc55]

Thank you  :) 

[weedin project]

mc55
if you can save one stem of this year's growth (no more than 6 feet long) you could tie that down horizontally and take a crop off it next October!  Otherwise if you have already pruned the plant back to a stubby trunk you will probably not get anything worth calling a "crop" next year - you may get a few grapes off fresh stems, but not many.

Good luck :D

[Yuet_Lee]

Sorry I've a stupid question ??? Does all the grapes can eat like you bought from supermarket?  Because I thought  the one that made wine were very smaller size & Very sour  ???
I have used the seeds which was I bought from supermarket for eating. I've two came up. Now about 12 months old. About 4foot height . Will I get any fruit next year ???Or does it any good at all?
yuet

[jennym]

...I thought  the one that made wine were very smaller size & Very sour  ???
I have used the seeds which was I bought from supermarket for eating. I've two came up. Now about 12 months old. About 4foot height . Will I get any fruit next year ???Or does it any good at all?
yuet

Yuet, yes, there are many different types of grape. So, your plants are 1 year old. They need to get strong. Next year, at 2 years old, if there is fruit, immediately remove it all. Do not allow the fruit to develop. And the year after, at 3 years old, leave only one bunch of grapes. You can taste this bunch to see what it is like. Then, if the fruit is what you want, allow about 6 bunches only, and in this way, by restricting the quantity of fruit, you will maintain the vigour of the vine and you will get good eating grapes - if the seedlings are a true dessert/eating variety. You will need to prune the vine though, see these links:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1100/grape_pruning.asp

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,12505.msg116421.html#msg116421

If you want specific grape types, buy from a nursery - this link shows a small grape that can be used for eating and for wine:

http://www.buckingham-nurseries.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl?PAGE=SEARCH&RANDOM=NETQUOTEVAR%3ARANDOM&SS=grape+boskoop&TB=A&S_Psection1_1=&S_Psearch2_0=1&ACTION=Search

[Yuet_Lee]

Thanks Jenny ;)

[weedin project]

I thought  the one that made wine were very smaller size & Very sour 

Yuet
the ones for making wine are often the sweetest you can get - it is the natural sugars that ferment down into alcohol.  However they can be small, and they almost always have pips that we have been "educated" to not eat.

[Yuet_Lee]

Is it they are the sweetest ??? Sorry I never know that! I thought they're small & sour!

[real food]

In my experience, wine grapes are NOT the sweetest!! It may be different south of Watford, but in Glasgow and growing under glass, the facts are :-

Cabernet de Sauvignon, wine grape, huge crop, loads of flavour but "tart" and not suitable for desert use.

Sauvignon blanc, wine grape, huge crop, loads of flavour, but  only a few bunches become sweet enough for desert use.

Black Hamburg, traditional desert grape, huge crop, good flavour and very sweet.

There is just no comparison.
Decide whether you want to grow grapes for wine or eating, and plant accordingly. I have replaced the wine grapes with seedless grapes, and in due course will let you know how they do. It takes about three years from planting before you can harvest a good crop.
I turned my wine grapes into wine, but had to add sugar to bring the wine up to a high enough alcohol content, to prevent it spoiling. The natural juice had only enough sugar content to ferment to a potential 8% alcohol. Still fermenting at this time.

[weedin project]

In my experience, wine grapes are NOT the sweetest!! It may be different south of Watford, but in Glasgow......

RF, I guess we can only go by our own experience....
Regent (red wine grapes) incredibly sweet - the sweetest fruit I've ever tasted - and (so far so good) tasty wine.
Orion (white wine grapes) not quite as sweet, and a bit more acid, but still a million times better than supermarket bland, headed for a drier wine than the red.

All wine grapes need some acidity to contriibute balance to the drink, so they will have an underlying tartness - sort of "sweet and dry" as opposed to "sweet and sour".

[Fiveravens]

Hallo there!
Does anyone know whether I'm insane to be attempting to grow vines in Ireland (Co Kerry)?  I'm considering Orion, Phoenix and Rondo.

[jennym]

Worth a try - this book may be of interest:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1840008032/026-6705487-8752460