My garden faces east-ish and gets a decent amount of sunlight, but it’s fairly exposed and can be cool, so plants that need really warm weather don’t like to grow here. Yet, there’s a corner by the back door that’s a pocket of sun and shelter, and a wise former occupant decided to plant a grapevine there. If I hadn’t inherited this mature grapevine, I can’t imagine I would have thought to plant one, but if you’ve got the right conditions they’re a lovely addition to an edible garden.
First you have to choose whether you want to grow wine grapes or dessert grapes. Wine grapes are smaller and less palatable – but hardier – than dessert grapes, which generally need to be grown in a sturdy greenhouse in order to fully ripen. Grapevines can be sourced from plant sellers and garden centres, and most will have been grafted – so make sure to choose a vine that is best suited to your soil type and local climate.
Like other perennial fruit plants, grapevines are best planted when dormant, though young plants can be vulnerable to cold temperatures, so aim for early spring to give them the best chance. Grapevines need free-draining soil with a decent level of fertility, so choose your location wisely and incorporate organic matter into the planting hole. My grapevine grows against a fence furnished with wires, which gives it the shelter and structure it needs.
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A newly planted grapevine will need regular watering in its first season in order to establish well, but from then on it should be happy being watered by the rain (aside from when there’s a drought, of course). Mulching in winter will improve soil structure and water retention; just be sure not to let the organic matter touch the vine itself.
Some people are put off growing grapevines by the precise training and pruning they need. While this is true, if – like me – you’re happy to see a thriving plant bearing a decent (but perhaps not optimal) amount of fruit, then the following less rigorous approach should do. I regularly trim the leaves and vines on mine to ensure there’s good airflow to keep the plant healthy. Just as when thinning apples, remove some bunches of grapes (or even some grapes from the bunches) to encourage the remaining fruit to swell and ripen. If you’re up for the challenge, do look up the different ways to train a vine and give it a go.
Grapes are ready to harvest from late summer into autumn, depending on the variety, and the best way to know whether they’re ready is to give them a taste. While cultivating grapevines can be exacting, they are a beautiful plant if you’ve got a spot with the right conditions for them to flourish.