planting a grapevine

[gwynnethmary]

We bought a grapevine in the Spring and it's been growing very happily in a largeish tub in the greenhouse.  We want to replant it in the soil outside and bring it through so that the roots reamain cool.  When would be the best time to do this please?  I know that it can't be pruned until it's completely dormant, but there are still lots of leaves on it, and it doesn't seem right to be thinking of planting in the middle of Winter.  Any advice would be most appreciated.

[gwynnethmary]

[saddad]

Anytime after it's gone dormant. Some vines hold onto their leaves well. As long as the soil isn't frozen any time upto Christmas will be fine.  :)

[goodlife]

If you are able to move the vine outdoors now..it will soon go dormant when it is not under the cover anymore..and then your are able to deal with it sooner rather than later. Pot grown vine can be planted any time of the year but for you to able to thread it back indoors is better to deal with it during dormant period. If you would accidentaly break branch off it would not cause much damage as if "in leaf" stage would.

[gwynnethmary]

We actually have a bit of a bed inside the greenhouse, so I'm thinking that we could dig a hole sort of half in and half out, but big enough to get it through from inside the greenhouse, then leave it to go dormant before pruning it-what about that for a plan?

[Vinlander]

We actually have a bit of a bed inside the greenhouse, so I'm thinking that we could dig a hole sort of half in and half out, but big enough to get it through from inside the greenhouse, then leave it to go dormant before pruning it-what about that for a plan?

I'm afraid you have it backwards.

Traditionally (and sensibly) you plant the vine OUTSIDE so the roots (and trunk) get the required winter chill to be properly dormant which it needs to fruit well, and then you bring the canes through a hole to the inside  (if it's an indoor variety) where they can get the extra heat for better ripening.

This is what Goodlife was referring to.

So it would be a waste of a useful greenhouse bed that you could use for other (shorter) crops.

[gwynnethmary]

We actually have a bit of a bed inside the greenhouse, so I'm thinking that we could dig a hole sort of half in and half out, but big enough to get it through from inside the greenhouse, then leave it to go dormant before pruning it-what about that for a plan?

I'm afraid you have it backwards.

Traditionally (and sensibly) you plant the vine OUTSIDE so the roots (and trunk) get the required winter chill to be properly dormant which it needs to fruit well, and then you bring the canes through a hole to the inside  (if it's an indoor variety) where they can get the extra heat for better ripening.

I do intend it to be planted outside- am thinking to POST it through  (kind of underneath the frame of the greenhouse,) by excavating some of the soil inside, if you see what I mean.  I know that that would mean very little exposure to the extreme cold for the trunk, but at least the roots would be a lot colder than where they are at the moment.  I'll put the soil back once it's posted.

This is what Goodlife was referring to.

So it would be a waste of a useful greenhouse bed that you could use for other (shorter) crops.

[gwynnethmary]

have had another think......the wall behind the greenhouse, which has the soil at the base and where the vine was going to have its roots, is south-facing.  Maybe we could just train it up and across the wall, and forget the greenhouse altogether.  Ought I to take it out of the greenhouse so that it falls asleep faster, and then I can maybe get it into the ground before the harshest weather arrives?

[Vinlander]

If you can move it without damaging the old wood then you can move it now - the roots will appreciate the warmth that's still in the soil.

If this is too risky then leave it until the normal pruning time - it is OK to plant grapes any time you can dig  but move it from soil to soil - don't leave bare roots out in frost.

Cheers.