Growing a grape vine in a polytunnel

[Skyedriver]

Tempted to try something different.
Anyone else tried one with any success?
How did you plant it?

One suggestion is roots outside where it's cooler and vine inside but that's going to be difficult to achieve, paving outside.

Another is plant in the polytunnel having dug a big hole and filled with compost (soil in the polytunnel will be quite stale being under a barrier - everything else is in a raised bed.

Plant in a large pot.

Anyone else had success?

Thanks

[xstian]

We grow a vine outside. I assume if you want it in a poly tunnel, you want to harvest the fruit?

They enjoy harsh conditions so not sure you would want to put it in a hole with compost. Ours grows in very well draining soil and we have never watered it. The fruit from it is ok if you get some decent sun at the end of summer, but the pips are quite annoying, so we usually leave the fruit for the birds.

[Cow Corner]

Growing up we had one in our greenhouse, it got in the way a bit, to be honest, even when kept reasonably tidy. We made wine from the grapes a few times, but it was undrinkable!

Personally, unless it’s a really big polytunnel, I think there are more productive and useful ways to use the space. Then again, growing your own is about growing what you want to grow, so if you fancy it, try it!

[craigthecoupe]

Agree, they are quite happy in poor soil, as long as not waterlogged. They also get everywhere, even if, as mentioned, they are well maintained. we have around 100 vines in our garden, and though they are lovely, and look in keeping with the area (we're in Italy) they take a lot of maintenance, prep, pruning, tying, spraying, and even then our wine is horrendous
No harm in trying one, but agree, you could probably use the space better.

[Huzzah]

We also have one alfresco, rigours but poor fruit (except 1 yr) some varieties do better in the UK. For us we use it for shade grown over an arbour.

[Peanut Gallery]

Fellow Scot here, I really wanted to grow a Fragolino grape, after research I planted the root ball out of the greenhouse and was going to train the vine up and into the greenhouse, where I could train 2 main stems across the roof.

Well, I admit winter 2022/2023 was harsh, but the vine did not survive, so I have replaced the vine and have extended the greenhouse to now include the root ball. (of course the greenhouse had angled sides, and the extension was at an angle, and needed another hard angle on the end to match the property boundary, all in a known wind tunnel)

New vine was planted a touch late in 2023 for a full growing season, but has really grown through 2024, no grapes yet, but nothing in the greenhouse did anything (seriously, out of 10 tom plants, 5 squash, garlic, peppers, chive plants - total harvest for the whole year was 70 grams of bland small toms.)

2025 I will annoy some neighbours and have grow lights if the weather does not play ball.

[renmure]

I wanted grapes in my old house in NE Scotland which had a very large south facing lean-to greenhouse. I planted 5 vines, 3 black, 2 green, with the rootballs inside the greenhouse and made sure to keep the soil well watered and trained the vines up and over the inside of the roof.

To say I had an excess of grapes would be an understatement. I was having to dump multiple barrow-loads of them each year. The vines were positively dripping with grape bunches and totally overwhelmed the place. I wish I’d been a bit more selective in pruning and training aiming for quality rather than quantity.

[Mr Magooagain]

craigthecoupe said:

Agree, they are quite happy in poor soil, as long as not waterlogged. They also get everywhere, even if, as mentioned, they are well maintained. we have around 100 vines in our garden, and though they are lovely, and look in keeping with the area (we're in Italy) they take a lot of maintenance, prep, pruning, tying, spraying, and even then our wine is horrendous
No harm in trying one, but agree, you could probably use the space better.

You might be better off distilling the juice into spirit.

[Mercdriver]

Grew a vine at 56 degrees north inside greenhouse with no problems but take advice on which variety I think it was Homburg I grew, some varieties not suited to colder weather.

Prune at beginning of year and thin out the grapes to improve the size and quality of the grapes

[craigthecoupe]

Mr Magooagain said:

You might be better off distilling the juice into spirit.

Making brandy? the locals make grappa, but it is evil stuff. some of the nicest bought ones are on the verge of being pleasant, but brandy could be fun.

[Mr Magooagain]

craigthecoupe said:

Mr Magooagain said:

You might be better off distilling the juice into spirit.

Making brandy? the locals make grappa, but it is evil stuff. some of the nicest bought ones are on the verge of being pleasant, but brandy could be fun.

This would be easier. How is Pineau des Charentes made? The Pineau des Charentes is a liqueur wine. To make Pineau des Charentes, ¾ of freshly pressed grape juice is mixed with ¼ of cognac brandy from the previous year. This ratio creates a Pineau at 17°C, which will then be aged in French oak barrels for varying lengths of time.

[Skyedriver]

Thanks everyone, sounds like I'm pushing my luck expecting much other than a lot of work. Would be interesting though. Will let you know how (un)successful it is.

[mdw]

I'm sure I read somewhere that people used to plant them in a hole on top of a dead sheep!!!! Maybe rather than a bit of sheep rustling a lot of bone meal might do the job just as well

[Skyedriver]

mdw said:

I'm sure I read somewhere that people used to plant them in a hole on top of a dead sheep!!!! Maybe rather than a bit of sheep rustling a lot of bone meal might do the job just as well

the sheep in the field next to me have a worried look about them.

[Cow Corner]

Skyedriver said:

the sheep in the field next to me have a worried look about them.

Kinky sod…