planting out grapes

[STHLMgreen]

I got two smallish grape plants for my birthday, and need to plant them out. They even have tiny head-of-a-pin size grapes.

The soil on the allotment is heavy clay, so I know to dig a deep hole and fill with better draining soil. I have also heard to plant North - South rows, not West - East ones. Any other useful tips? Does the soil need anything special? I have some vermiculite I might add depending on how much potting soil and horse manure we have left to fill in the whole.

Thanks!

[STHLMgreen]

[realfood]

They will produce more grapes and less sappy growth if you avoid over feeding them. Manure is too nitrogenous, perhaps some bone meal.

[jennym]

They like a bit of lime.

[calendula]

they like blood as well  :o

[gp.girl]

Just got a young plant it says protect the roots from frost on the instructions. Would straw be a good idea?

Will training it east to west really effect the plant badly as north to south is going to be tricky?

Lastly  :) will it like being by the composter?

[Vinlander]

Just got a young plant it says protect the roots from frost on the instructions. Would straw be a good idea?

Will training it east to west really effect the plant badly as north to south is going to be tricky?

Lastly  :) will it like being by the composter?

I think that this advice is aimed at people who plan to grow them in pots.

If you plant them right now in the ground they will benefit from the remaining warmth in the soil by making rapid root growth even as the tops go dormant.

Pretty much all grapes on sale in Europe are 100% hardy in the soil in the UK - you'd have to go a long way past the Shetlands to kill one.

In UK winters they actually like cool roots and cold tops (to encourage proper dormancy). In the summer they like heat, though there are several types that do better outside than in a greenhouse. You need to look yours up...

In fact greenhouse grapes are traditionally planted outside the greenhouse (which is also unheated in winter) and the main stem comes inside through a hole.

The only way your hot heap will help them is if it raises the temps in spring (for an early start) and maybe autumn if they are very late grapes or you are a long way north. In winter it will only confuse them!

Cheers.