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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: davholla on November 21, 2007, 17:40:55

Title: Grapevine rich soil or poor soil
Post by: davholla on November 21, 2007, 17:40:55
I heard on Gardeners' question time a few weeks ago that grapes should have poor soil.  But my fruit books says that they need rich soil with compost etc.

What do people think ?

BTW it will be in pot and growing in a small greenhouse.
Title: Re: Grapevine rich soil or poor soil
Post by: saddad on November 21, 2007, 18:58:14
In a pot they will need rich soil... they can have extensive roots which allows them to flourish on poor hillside soils but in a pot they need the goodness because restricted.
:)
Title: Re: Grapevine rich soil or poor soil
Post by: Suzanne on November 21, 2007, 19:37:06
My black grapevine grows on a south facing garage wall. It is a quite poor soil as roots are surrounded by path and we never feed it. In the last three years it has produced the best grapes yet - so I would definitely say poor soil to make it flourish if planting in the ground.
Title: Re: Grapevine rich soil or poor soil
Post by: calendula on November 21, 2007, 21:01:22
they like blood  :o

my grandparents used to grow grapes in a greenhouse and every now again they would bring a bucket of blood back from a local abbatoir to feed the grapes on - blimey, but that's about as rich as it gets

odd how confusing all the advice is  ???
Title: Re: Grapevine rich soil or poor soil
Post by: davholla on November 22, 2007, 09:09:09
Quote from: saddad on November 21, 2007, 18:58:14
In a pot they will need rich soil... they can have extensive roots which allows them to flourish on poor hillside soils but in a pot they need the goodness because restricted.
:)
So compost, bonemeal, phosphate etc then ?

Thanks a lot.
Title: Re: Grapevine rich soil or poor soil
Post by: davee52uk on November 23, 2007, 21:52:13
I've just stuck the roots in any place on my allotment and they've grown well. I've never put any compost or anything on them. Once they start growing watch out! They are really rampant. The only stipulation is that they need sun.
Title: Re: Grapevine rich soil or poor soil
Post by: saddad on November 23, 2007, 23:52:59
Sounds good to me Davholla.........
;D