Grapes
Grow your own grapes for eating or wine, even in the UK! Choose disease-resistant outdoor varieties for best success. A beautiful climber for walls and pergolas.
Grapes (Young vine)
£14.99 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
Typically grown from rooted cuttings or purchased as young plants.
Plant out
March – May, or September – October. Choose a warm, sheltered, sunny site.
Harvest
Late August – October, depending on variety and weather.
Conditions
Sun
Full sun, 8+ hours a day, ideally against a south-facing wall or in a greenhouse.
Water
Keep consistently moist during growing season, especially when fruit is swelling. Reduce watering in autumn.
Soil
Deep, well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0–7.0. Grapes dislike waterlogging.
Spacing
1.2–2.5m (4–8ft) apart depending on training method and vigour.
Containers
Possible in very large containers (min. 60cm diameter) with regular feeding and watering, but best in the ground.
Indoors
Can be grown in a greenhouse or conservatory for earlier and heavier crops, especially wine grapes.
Care and harvest
Feeding
Apply a balanced general-purpose fertiliser in early spring, then a high-potash feed once flowers appear. Top dress with compost.
Pruning
Winter prune (Dec–Feb) to shape and establish fruiting wood. Summer prune (Jul–Aug) to remove excess growth and improve air circulation around bunches.
Harvesting
Taste test to check for ripeness; they should be sweet. Grapes do not ripen further once picked. Cut entire bunches.
Storage
Best eaten fresh from the vine. Can be stored in the fridge for a few days or frozen for later use in cooking/smoothies.
Good companions: Hyssop, Geraniums, Rosemary