What to do with a young grape vine?

[Skyedriver]

Never really expected this to grow, just shows how hardy they are..
Planted at the side of the polytunnel, I had thought I'd train it up with the polytunnel hoop and diagonally up the stay but I really have no idea whether I'm doing this right - sure I'm not.
Was reconsidering a fresh hoop inside the polytunnel one and horizontal rope strainers between it and the diagonal stay but guidance from grape vine growers would be seriously appreciated.
It gets regular watering but the roots will be able to draw water from outside too when they get that far.
Thanks in advance.

[Huzzah]

I only get a few builders buckets of grapes each yr, but mainly grown for shade. I use wire rope.

[Simpo Two]

It will grow up anything it can find to hang on to.

However you will need to prune it otherwise you'll end up with a Dr Who monster. Pruning - look up how to do it properly - will also encourage more fruit.

[Peanut Gallery]

Hello fellow Scottish Grape Grower!

I'm now in my 4th year of this grape vine - it is going nicely mental.
I just tried to keep a mixture of maximum growth plus adequate air flow - and really fought tons of snails and aphids for the first 2 years.
(I got it wrong, I did not have enough airflow, got a big number of diseased leaves)
When it is fruiting, go to the last grape bunch on each vine, count one more leaf, snip.
After you have harvested, let it grow as much as possible.
Early spring, trim it to the shape you want it to grow, try only let the vine grow a foot or so a year, but feel free to adjust as to how hard you want to push your vine.

I have the fragolina - strawberry grape hybrid that is very seedy - hoping for a small crop this year, last year all the grapes broke off the stems as they were vertical - this year I have a lot more grapes on horizontal vines, will see.

I follow https://www.youtube.com/@mycountrylife810 - My Country Life - for some tips, note you will have to adjust timings for being up north.

Grapes don't like wet feet, I confess i have built a separate area of greenhouse just to keep mine in so I can monitor soil moisture and PH levels, and try keep slugs at bay.

[Skyedriver]

So what I've read about one vertical main stem and training the side shoots horizontally but pruning well back every year isn't the only way to go?

[Landlubber]

It depends on what you want, shade? Let the bugger rip and prune to shape.

Fruit prune back hard, take a look at a vineyard.

[Peanut Gallery]

As above, what do you want!

Mine is at the end of the greenhouse, I have split it into 2 vines that I will grow up and along either side of the roof. They are mega growers when they take off, so will happily shade out most other plants.

[Skyedriver]

Difficult one.
It's west coast Scotland so sunshine isn't exactly prolific
The polytunnel gets early morning sunshine but by lunchtime next doors two big trees cast a large shadow over it which tends to remain the rest of the day.
I'll get a pic up.

[Peanut Gallery]

That's the base of mine, just inland from Aberdeen, NE Scotland. Catches a bit of morning sun, then between early and later afternoon.

Greenhouse has 2 auto windows which both open to let a breeze through.

It's had lots of digestate and high sand content compost added, needs another top dress and some companion plants.

[Landlubber]

What does it produce? Desert grapes or cooking red?

[Peanut Gallery]

Mine is a strawberry grape hybrid, large bitter seed, very sweet grape. So far I have harvested about 5 grapes total, I plan in eating them straight (if I can get them before the kids)

If you fancy a road trip, I have been to a vineyard in Italy where they made fragolino wine from this variety, but due to the hybrid they cannot sell it, so in broken Italian I gave them a gift of cash and they have me a gift of bottles, exceeding sweet. (it's not the fragolino you find in some shops)

[Landlubber]

Peanut Gallery said:

Mine is a strawberry grape hybrid, large bitter seed, very sweet grape. So far I have harvested about 5 grapes total, I plan in eating them straight (if I can get them before the kids)

If you fancy a road trip, I have been to a vineyard in Italy where they made fragolino wine from this variety, but due to the hybrid they cannot sell it, so in broken Italian I gave them a gift of cash and they have me a gift of bottles, exceeding sweet. (it's not the fragolino you find in some shops)

The perceived wisdom for dessert varieties is to have the root outside with the growth inside, good straining wires, ventilation is paramount and I wouldn't do anything to the soil, I've got a dark wine vine against the garage wall and I leave it totally alone apart from war with a machete. Vines root easily so take lots of cuttings then if the worst happens you're covered.

[Peanut Gallery]

Landlubber said:

Peanut Gallery said:

Mine is a strawberry grape hybrid, large bitter seed, very sweet grape. So far I have harvested about 5 grapes total, I plan in eating them straight (if I can get them before the kids)

If you fancy a road trip, I have been to a vineyard in Italy where they made fragolino wine from this variety, but due to the hybrid they cannot sell it, so in broken Italian I gave them a gift of cash and they have me a gift of bottles, exceeding sweet. (it's not the fragolino you find in some shops)

The perceived wisdom for dessert varieties is to have the root outside with the growth inside, good straining wires, ventilation is paramount and I wouldn't do anything to the soil, I've got a dark wine vine against the garage wall and I leave it totally alone apart from war with a machete. Vines root easily so take lots of cuttings then if the worst happens you're covered.

I do hear you! - I tried this, built the area for a good root system outside, had the holes etc for the plant to grow up and in .. . and then the Scottish winter came and the grape vine never survived, despite it supposed to be good to freeze if the main stem is above the diameter of your little finger.

You raise a very good point on taking cuttings, I think I will find a variety with a good root stock, grow that, and then splice some of my vine onto that root stock (my variety doesn't make good roots)