Grapevine pruning

[Kayleigh]

I bought a small white grapevine last year. I planted it in a small wall on the patio in full sun.
It seems to like the location as we had a few small bunches of sweet grapes on it.
But I didn't prune it as I have no idea how..
Any help will be much appreciated.
I will post some pics if that will help.

[Geoff F]

Expert pruning can be a bit tricky. If you can find a good gardening book it will have pages on the subject; and you will probably get totally confused.

But this is what I do. Firstly, do you want a single rod vine or multiple rods? All this means is that if you have more available width than height for the vine to grow you can create 2 or 3 upright stems instead of just 1. I let a couple of the best shoots get long and train them horizontally away from the centre shoot in opposite directions. When they have grown a sufficient distance, turn them upwards. Do not prune these shoots. They will eventually become new extra upright main 'branches'.

Do not do any major pruning of last year's growth now. It is too late. Tie the side shoots (laterals) to horizontal wires and in the summer pinch out the growing tips 2 leaves beyond a flower/fruit truss. In future years you can leave 2 trusses. If the main stem gets too long and leggy prune out the tip.

Thin out small poor quality grapes from the bunches. Victorians had specially made scissors for this. But it probably won't matter too much as blackbirds will get 90% of the grapes anyway.

In Autumn, after leaf fall, trim the main upright stems by around one third and the sideshoots to 2 buds (approx). The following year, when these spurs produce shoots, reduce them to one shoot per spur and continue summer pruning, as above.

Some gardeners like to untie the main rods in January and let them hang downwards for about a month. But I never bother.

My neighbour just grows grape vines as decoration and doesn't bother with correct pruning. He just roughly chops it back a bit in winter and prunes new shoot tips when they get too long. And, most years, he gets as many grapes as me!

So it's really up to you whether you think it is worth the trouble of doing things correctly. But I repeat, do not prune the main stem now.

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

My neighbour just grows grape vines as decoration and doesn't bother with correct pruning. He just roughly chops it back a bit in winter and prunes new shoot tips when they get too long. And, most years, he gets as many grapes as me!

Thats what I do with mine (Black Homburg), I chop it back to the three rods I have (about 8ft long). I get about 30 bunches on it.

[dragonfly]

I HAVE had grape vines on my allotment for about ten years now what I have found
cut the branches back to about a foot or so amake sure it can brake in two different places on no account touch the main stem as it will bleed to death if you after you have pruned it and it starts loosing alot of water get a blow torch and burn the cut
until it stops best time to prune is xmas day or christmas week as the plant is totaly dormant.

[Kayleigh]

Thanks Geoff Wow, its all very daunting.

It is growing against a 6ft fence and the length is about 5 or 6 fence panels. A couple of the side shoots I tied to the fence so that they grow along the fence sideways. Every time the shoots grew I just tied them to the fence.

So all I have to do this year then is to pinch out the growing tips, and tie them in. Then prune in autumn..

I will keep this for reference and keep coming back to look. Sounds like your neighbour could do with some advice I bet he was daunted by the whole process too.

[cassie]

HI Cassie here i am in a pickle with all this pruning lark
i cut my grape vine back hard in the winter ,my husband built a pogoda for it to cling to its 5 years old and its gone loopy (Bit like me ) Well i havent pinched out the ends of the growing tips Its compleatly covered the pogola can i still pinch out the growing tips and can i also nip off some of the leafs My vine is a wild child growing wherever it wants including my next doors garden I dont know how to tame it HELP PLEASE

[booboo]

Hi there,
I have a vineyard for wine with about 500 vines.For maxium crop, first new (low to the ground) strong stem cut to one bud, left hand side of vine, again strong vine,(to support grapes) tie across or slightly down, very important for next years crop cut to 8/10 buds. It may have have buds on each side, only count one side. repeat on right hand side. You will now only have a very small stem with one bud and two longer stems with 8/10 buds. everything you remove, it will look very, very bare. stems will now grow upwards, tie along as they grow, never tie them tight, always leave room for them to grow. pince out side leaves growing beside the large leaves. you tie in you vines to surpport them as the grapes are heavy and can snap the stems letting in diease. grapes need sun and air.thinning out stems and leaves is good for the vine. the more leaves and unproductive stems it has to feed the less grapes.
It is best to prune and clean main stem with wire brush after the frosts and before the 15ish march.
we are trying to go organic with the grapes any tips will go along way!
Ps I will write about next years pruning only if asked.

[booboo]

Hi cassie
yes you can still pince out and prune.you are not meant to touch the vines when the grapes are growing.make sure what you use is clean and shape. you dont want to let disease in at this stage, be gentle in handling them, dont pull or snap them. you need to open the vine up to let the sun and air in. stronge sun can scorch the grapes, therefor its good to let a big leaf shade the bunches. check for unproductive stems and remove all side shoots.

[ron1863]

Kayleigh I know you like wine, but growing your own now

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by ron1863

Kayleigh I know you like wine, but growing your own now

Yes, I have quite a few bunches on there now.

Thank you booboo and everyone,
Its all very helpful stuff. I think I will wait till the autumn now before I attempt to do any pruning.