Grapevine

I want to put the grapevine that I bought last year in the greenhouse. I have just read that grapevines need to "overwinter" outside. I am now very confused. Do I cut it all back in the winter? I have it in a pot but was considering actually planting it into the soil. It isnt very big and I didnt get any flowers last year so thought the greenhouse would help? Help please!!

 

Mine is planted outside the greenhouse, and trained (through a circular hole - one pane of glass, on North side of greenhouse, replaced with 3-ply) and thus the foliage etc. of the vine is inside the greenhouse.

 

Bit tricky to answer really, without knowing much about the spot you want to plant your vine in. Also knowing the type of vine would be helpful. Having said that, I know plenty of gardeners successfully growing many varieties of grapevine outside. Don't expect too much in terms of fruit, but if you keep new growth under control you may have some successes after a few good years.

You can prune quite hard if you wanted to, this will gradually strengthen your vine, or if you prefer the Mediterranean look of a sprawling vine, clip back lightly in winter and new growth will appear from what looks like dead vines in spring.

Hope this helps.

 

This is what my parents do with theirs, it's been happy for many years now.

Correction: it's trained into a conservatory...not a greenhouse.

 

I've experimented with grapevines in pots recently, as far as I'm concerned its a no go, they need a lot of root space and no amount of feeding and watering will make up for that.
I did grow one once planted inside the greenhouse and also one planted out side, if its a greenhouse with just a base, it will make no difference, the roots will be under the base in no time and searching for water in the outside world.

If you let the frost into the greenhouse in winter it will be fine, if you keep it just frost free it will be fine, but they do need a winter rest, so a cold period is best.

Flowering is determined, by ripening of the wood the previous season, so if its not flowered yet I'd be inclined so say that it wont this year.
Correct pruning is required if you want grapes of edible quality.

 

Good point. Mine has 2 courses of bricks on a concrete foundation ...

 

So did mine, but it got its roots under that, depends how far you go down with the concrete, bearing in mind its a greenhouse, even the strelizia roots escaped to the outside.

 

I was just indoctrinated with the thinking of planting outside, and training in through the wall / window, as the Victorians did.

What was their thinking then I wonder? (or did they have substantial footings perhaps? Not that they bothered with them that much for their houses [compared to nowadays!])

 

I'm not sure what type of vine it is :/ It is a dessert variety. I bought it last year, left it under my decking and completely forgot about it. Then I came across it a couple of months back, thought it was dead so was about to stick it on the compost, when I noticed it had a bud on it. I feel really sorry for my poor abused grapevine it's looking happy in the greenhouse now though Thanks for the advice

 

Thanks I think I'll move her out then. I was worried that the frost would damage her but now I know otherwise I will find her a nice spot in the garden.