Grapevine

[shirlton]

A friend bought a grapevine from Lidl 2 years ago and is wondering when it is going to flower and wether or not he should prune it. I know nowt about grapevines so told him that I would ask on here

[shirlton]

[goodlife]

Ok..you friend should not do any pruning for now. Any major pruning with grapes are done in winter when the plants are in dormant stage..December/Jan.
As the plant is so young it won't flower for yet..possibly next spring..the main stem/trunk needs to be mature enough.."woody"
The pruning is not complicated to do..but it is complicated to explain. ..but I try.. ::)
Next winter..he should decide what is going to be the main stem that will eventually to become a trunk and chop the extra lenght off...from that any other stems needs to be cut back to..hmm..say 1-2" short stumps or to down 2 leaf joints/buds.
That would be his main job every winter. Then there is summer pruning to do..but we'll gross that once he got first fruits in promise.. ;)
There is many ways to prune/train grapevine..but what I've told is very basic and perharps easiest. Once he gets bit more idea why/what to aim for..he can always start training/pruning differently.
Oh..and its good to keep the 'main stem' short..the new summer growth romps away very quickly and takes lot of room so the plant is easier to maintain if the main part of it is lower down..perharps 2-3 ft high..

[galina]

Agree with goodlife.  First year the main stem grows, second year, branches off that, third year little branches off those with flowers/grapes on.

But, if the previous summer was very cold or if the plant has been held back for any other reason, it could easily take another year.

Check for main stem, secondary branches and do not prune off tertiary spurs because they are the ones with fruit on!  Just keep them very short, to a couple of buds.  Often tertiary spurs develop the same year as flowers on them.  Prune them short beyond the flower and a bit of foliage.  This is a finger and thumb operation during summer.  But must be done frequently because a mature vine can put on tremendous growth if left unpruned.  There will be far less pruning on a newly bought vine.

Vines can 'bleed' a lot of sap from pruning and even die if the summer pruning was too drastic on a small plant.  Winter pruning with secateurs and summer 'finger and thumb' pruning is what I was advised.

Hope this makes sense to you and your friend.