Grapes

[Gordonmull]

This is a long shot, but does anyone have a recommendation for a grape variety that will ripen in the eastern central belt of scotland? (Obviously in better years than this.)

[Gordonmull]

[ed dibbles]

Yes there are a number of varieties that are likely to do well in central scotland.

Are you thinking of wine, eating, or dual purpose grapes?

[Gordonmull]

Oops, I just realised I had been incredibly vague there!

I'm looking to get a red or black seedless eating variety to grow outdoors.

Dual purpose would be interesting, though. Some for scoffing some for drinking. I take it there's probably a trade off with these though, not quite as good as an eating variety to eat but not as good as a wine variety to brew? Just asking because if something sounds too good to be true... 

[ed dibbles]

Here are some grape varieties that should do well in scotland. Ones that are early ripening, hardy, and easy to source;)

For wine (in order of ripening) white - Siegerrebe, Solaris, Madeleine Angevine.

red- rondo

For eating - Mars (red seedless) Somerset Seedless (pink grapes - this variety is grown in many baltic countries on a similar latitiude to scotland. Queen Of Esther (seeded, early & delicious).

Dual purpose - Madeleine Angevine, Phoenix (both white seeded). These are basically nice tasting wine grapes.

There are also a number of very good eastern european verieties that are available but harder to find.

As with all grapes the more sheltered you can grow them the better.

Your clay soil may hold them back a little in the spring but not enough to prevent good crops most years. :)

[Gordonmull]

Ed, that's fantastic, thank you very much. It's for OH so you have earned me some brownie points!

[ed dibbles]

Glad I was of help. ;D

[Arumlily]

I hope you can help me too. I've had a grape vine in my greenhouse for many years. I have no idea what variety it is, as it was a gift from the OH. I did ask him once and he can't remember what variety it is. My problem is the grapes when form are rather tiny, I long to see it swell like the ones the supermarket sells. But mine is just the size of two peas join together. Any idea or tips on how I can make it grow bigger please. Thank you.

[ed dibbles]

Supermarket grapes are often treated with gibberellic acid, a naturally occuring plant hormone, or girdling of the vines canes or trunk in order to increase berry size. Girdling is removing a narrow strip of bark.

For home growers it is often suggested to thin the number of bunches or, rather more fiddly, individual berries in the bunch so that the grapes that are left grow bigger. (A bit like how show goosberries are produced by restricting the number of fruit.) So try reducing the crop load once fruit set is complete but before they colour up.

Of course your OH may have simply got you a small fruited variety. ;) Some seedless varieties are naturally small fruited. (there is a scientific explanation for this)

A tie I had holding a main branch of one of my vines went unnoticed for a few years. As the branch thickened it began cutting into the bark. Over a couple of years the grapes on that branch grew noticably bigger. Then when I  found and removed the tie the grapes reverted to normal size. The tie girdled the trunk presumably.

I'm not recommending doing this just saying something that happened ;)