Grape vine advice needed

[simon404]

Last spring I was given a "Boskop Glory" grapevine and advised to plant it outside the greenhouse and train it inside. I did this  (twice) but both times the shoot trained inside died. This year I noticed the outside plant coming to life again and was wondering about training it outside, the back of the greenhouse should give it some protection. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[simon404]

[Merlins Mum]

Hi Simon
I have a vine which came from my Dad's.  I have mine outside on a south facing fence.  Each year it grows bigger and stronger but as yet I've had no grapes.
My Dad had his planted inside the greenhouse and he used to get bunches and bunches of grapes, delicious they were.  Mind you I am talking about a big greenhouse, 24' long  :o
Hope this is some help.  :)
MM

[saddad]

You say that shoot died back, what exactly happened? How soon did it shed it's leaves? Are you sure it just didn't go dormant, it can be relatively brittle!
???

[cleo]

why? why? does this myth go on?-don`t  plant outside and train in.

[ACE]

The fruit will only ripen inside. Grow the plant outside but train it inside the greenhouse, then next autumn leave one long lateral and cut the rest off. The year after get a bigger greenhouse.

[simon404]

 :) Thanks for the replies  :)
saddad - it was a new geeen shoot but both times just withered within about a week
cleo - sorry I don't know the first thing about growing vines but the chap who gave me the cutting has his set up like that and then two laterals trained along wires on the inside, gets a lovely crop in a 6' greenhouse. Are you saying I should have planted it on the inside?
Anyhoo sounds like I'll try training a shoot inide again and maybe take a cutting and plant it inside too!
Cheers Ace, you might have given me the perfect excuse!

[cleo]

Yes I was saying plant it inside-but don`t take my word-I had the pleasure of meeting Harry Dodson-what that gentleman knew would take me more than a life time and more. He said planting outside was just a thing that went on and was  not the best way

[simon404]

 :) Thanks Cleo

[saddad]

Can't imagine why it withered unless you bent it too far Simon, mine is totally outside and the only problem I have is keeping it down!
;D

[simon404]

You could be right there saddad, I'm going to drill a hole in the wooden skirting this time rather than trying to feed it underneath. I'll keep you posted!

[weedin project]

Simon
looking at your photo I wonder if growing the plant under the frame will have exposed it to maybe salt or something else (cement?) in amongst the gravel, which could have affected it.  If you make a hole in the frame, you will have to continually enlarge it as the stem thickens each year.

I'd dispute Ace's statement that it will only ripen inside - depends on where you live.  South of a line from Bristol to the Wash it should be fine outdoors.  Bob Flowerdew's Gourmet Gardener book shows him growing Boskoops outside in big buckets.