We planted a grape vine on the wall of our garage the summer- it gets a reasonable amount of sun during the summer and is in a sheltered spot. Does anyone think we should build a sort of lean-to protective structure around it, and, if we did, would it have to stand on hard standing, or could it just rest on the soil? Could we use fleece?
Do you know what variety it is? Mine are outdoors with no protection but some varieties are hardier than others.
gwynnethmary it might helpful if you provided more info about the grape variety.
It might also be helpful if you provided info about you general location and local climate.
It wasn't a named variety- just picked it up on impulse from Focus. The spot it's in faces South but there's quite a bit of shade in the winter from buildins and tall shrubs- the wall is quite sunny in the summer though. We live in the North- East, and I wondered if it might need some winter protection. The garage shelters it from the wind which mainly comes from that direction.
Grape vines are hardy so frost is not a problem, but the problem may be in getting the grapes to ripen if they are outdoors. you will just need to see what happens.
Both the people I know who have grapevines in conservatories have the roots outside.
I have my grapes in a greenhouse, but I made sure that the roots were planted outside and the main stem threaded under the base of the greenhouse. In very dry spells, I even have to water the ground outside as grapes take up a lot of water.
I think you will be ok gwynnethmary, but if you want you can always wrap some fleece around it and maybe mulch with some straw. I find with some of my tender plants its the combination of wet and cold that does them in
1066
they go dormant in winter so you will be fine - I have several and never have protected them - lets face it they grow in the French pyrenees no problems and that CAN get cold!
Psi
Thanks everyone for your words of advice and encouragement- we'll hold off the lean-to for now (phew! glad about that- didn't really fancy it!)
I'd agree that ripening is the only issue - and a net can help with that - you may need one anyway if they are any good - especially if you let them get really sweet. And wasp traps.