Help my grapevine please.

[Bombus Bombus]

Hi,last year i bought two blue vitis grapevine plants and planted them in a pair of terracota 12 inch pots.To my amazement theyve come back but in the last couple of days a couple of leaves have wilted slightly probably due to this amazing weather were having so i gave them a good watering.I would love these vitis to do well so any tips would be welcome.Will they do alright in pots cos i cant put them in ground in there location,do i feed,watering,when will they fruit anything that may help.Bombus Bombus.

[eeyore]

I'm afraid i dont know anything about grapevines so i cant be of direct help - however my old dear who is into her gardening sugested this site and I have managed to find an article about growing them in containers - hope that it is helpful Grow Grapevines in Pots!

[Roaring Mouse]

Hiya Bombus Bombus,

You have your vines in big enough pots at the moment, but you watering sounds a bit haphazard if you are getting some wilt between waterings. So watch for this by watering whenever it is needed. If the compost looks or feels dry soak it, fill the pot to the top with water. Use a good rose either on the end of the hose or the watering can.

What compost is it in? Peat based ( ) Whatever it is, you need to top dress for this year, that is take off the first 2" of old compost and replace with fresh, sprinkle some extra organic fertilizer before adding the new layer of compost, this will keep the vines growing well for this year.

You are aiming to build up a good root system on the vines, which takes about 3 years before looking at any fruit forming. At 3 years onwards it is a gradual increase in fruiting. You need also to train the vines to create a framework. There is information on this website that will help you decide how to do it.

Keep us informed.

[Garden Carpet]

Originally Posted by Roaring Mouse

Hiya Bombus Bombus,

You have your vines in big enough pots at the moment, but you watering sounds a bit haphazard if you are getting some wilt between waterings. So watch for this by watering whenever it is needed. If the compost looks or feels dry soak it, fill the pot to the top with water. Use a good rose either on the end of the hose or the watering can.

What compost is it in? Peat based ( ) Whatever it is, you need to top dress for this year, that is take off the first 2" of old compost and replace with fresh, sprinkle some extra organic fertilizer before adding the new layer of compost, this will keep the vines growing well for this year.

You are aiming to build up a good root system on the vines, which takes about 3 years before looking at any fruit forming. At 3 years onwards it is a gradual increase in fruiting. You need also to train the vines to create a framework. There is information on this website that will help you decide how to do it.

Keep us informed.

I have a fruiting vine in my conservatory, I never water it. Last year I grew tomatoes in there with it and ruined approx 30lbs of grapes .. tomatoes like it moist grapes like it dry. I also believe they like their roots 'cramped'. I dont know how they fare in their younger days as I inherited this older vine when I moved in. Good luck with yours BB
jaki

[nightshade]

I started my vine off in a large tub john innes No.3 with well rotted horses-doofers blended in mulched with gravel to help keep the moisture in.Watered according to the pot size, small pot little and often, large tub every other day.From there it went into the ground again H-D blended into the soil watered in the evenings as required,top dressed with H-D in the winter

[Bombus Bombus]

Thanks for the tips,had a look at eeyores link and the pots are in the right place ie shade while the rest of the plant is in a suntrap till 2pm.The location is pretty sheltered so hopefully with a little top dressing and correct watering and a bit of luck they will thrive without bringing them indoors for the winter.Bombus Bombus.

[brainfarmer]

i think the growing medium is really important in pot growing whatever it is you are trying to grow. if your are like me u buy a few big bags of compost and trust to luck, using the same compost for sowing seeds and mature plants. i think im right in thinking grapes like at slightly alkalaine growing medium so you have to look at the Ph of the medium u grow in and the Ph of the water you use. hope u have success.

[nightshade]

My vine is a Vitis brandt,a sweet black grape that the birds love
it had hundreds of bunches on last year,South facing full sun
It is planted in clay with oooo mulch and pretty much left to its
own devices