Need help planting a grape vine

[Ted_H]

A couple of weeks ago I bought a grape vine from Wilkinsons, which I plan to plant out on a south facing wall on the patio.
Its still in the pot it came in covered by the poly bag , and its been kept watered on a shelf in the kitchen.
Yesterday I noticed some new growth on it.

When's the best time to plant it outside, does it need to be hardened off first? I've got an unheated greenhouse that I could put it into if I need too.
Are there  anymore tips you could give me to make it a success, as I've never grown a grape vine  before.

Oh by the way its called Vitis

[Ted_H]

[Gillysdad]

Now I've never owned a grapevine but all the ones that I have seen are in a greenhouse. I should imagine its got a lot to do with the climate here in the north east. Sorry I can't be of more help, others may know more. ;)

[manicscousers]

we've got two..one on a south facing wall and the other in the warmest place we could fin on the plot..both are supposed to be ok outside ..they were only planted last year so put some growth on but don't know about fruit yet  :)

[Tee Gee]

which I plan to plant out on a south facing wall

When digging the planting hole keep it away from the wall as much as you can and train the 'rod' (stem) back to the wall.

This is essential if planting  against a house wall, i.e. the eaves will shed water from it so it may suffer from lack of moisture.

Similarly foliage can do the same thing!

There is some cultural information here; http://tinyurl.com/2fdf2p

[sweet-pea]

I have another question about vines, having bought a vine last week from Woolworths.  It says it is hardy so I'm going to grow it outside.  Initially I was just planning on planting it on the plot and seeing what happens, but I'm now wondering whether I might have more success if I plant it in a container on the South facing patio. 
My question is, how big a container would it need, and how tall/wide is it likely to get?

Many thanks

SP

[Tee Gee]

Mines is in a 10" pot but I think growing in a pot restricts the fruiting. ???

I base this on years ago I had one that grew in the soil and the fruit return & size was tremendous whereas now with this one in the pot I get quite a few bunches, they ripen but are very small.

I get the impression a big root run gives big grapes, small root run = small grapes, but as I say this is only an impression!

[sweet-pea]

Thanks Tee Gee.  Maybe I should erect a fence panel on the plot and grow it against that.

[Tee Gee]

Maybe I should erect a fence panel on the plot and grow it against that.

Either grow them as a shrub as they do in France, Spain etc or grow them as espaliers i.e. drive in two stakes and fix a few lines of wire between them and train the rods onto the wires.