Allotments 4 All

 I would like to try and grow grapes in my greehouse.How many should I buy for a 6 x 8 greenhouse.I was thinking maybe 2.What is the best type to grow for eating?
I have seen them in the catalogue for about £12 each -is this a reasonable price?
Thank-you for taking the time to read. Rgds David.

I would only put one plant in a 6X8 - unless you are going to use the gh exclusively for grapes.
it may take a couple of years but soon you will be hacking it back.

Choice - pick one that will survive a frost (most will) and pick one that you would prefer to eat eg black/white seedless or for making wine depending on your ulterior motive!

Finally grape plants can e bought in the supermarkets for about £4 in April - or cuttings (which take quickly) can be borrowed from anyone with an existing vine

I was told to plant the roots outside and feed the plant inside, apparently they like a cool rootrun

This was on an earlier thread:

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/smf/index.php/topic,24107.0.html

Tip from Bob Flowerdew on Saturday was to get an early fruiting variety for this country.

David
a 6'x8' greenhouse could in theory accommodate up to 3 down each side if you really really wanted to commit the whole house to grapes.  However many you plant, you must keep them well pruned or else you'll end up with a massive jungle!

I'm in south Hampshire, and am planning to put 5 in a bed down one side of a 12' long high-eaves house next spring.  I have a frame made of bamboo that is set at 2' spaces (I use similar for melons) which I plan to train them along.  The odd ones (1, 3 & 5) will be trained along the horizontal canes at 2' high in a shortened "double Guyot" type of arrangement to 2' lengths (should give maybe 4 fruiting spurs each side for produce), and the even ones (2 & 4) I'll grow on an extra 2' higher to 4' and train them along that horizontal cane to get perhaps 5 or 6 fruiting spurs.  I know cane isn't the strongest framework for them, but with no wind and regular pruning it should be OK.
I'm hoping to use a fairly exotic variety like Pinot Gris or Viognier that we can't really grow outdoors here.  I will be planting the roots inside, for no other reason than I don't want to knock great big holes in the base (and don't forget that grape stems get pretty thick over the years :o)!

I'm considering a Lakemont, supposed to be an improved Thompson's Seedless... has anyone else tried it?
???

Hi crombie,

Have a look at this site http://wine.hillyheights.co.uk/ he regularly sells the vines on ebay and there eating and wine making vines.

He even shows you how to make the wine - yum!

cambourne7