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How to train your grapevine

gregorhanslikgregorhanslik Posts: 31
in Problem solving

Hello folks,

I’d love some help with a vine, which I think is a grapevine - it appeared growing in a pot last year and seems determined to live a long and happy life. (If you know for certain what it is, please let me know.)


I was thinking about training along my outdoor wall - up the side (where the pot is now placed), over the top of the doors, and perhaps down the other side to some extent.

It will need to be kept in a pot as there’s no soil for it to be planted in.

I thought it would be best to drill holes, install some hooks and run wires up the wall and then along the top.


I’m not sure if this is the right approach, so advice is welcome.

I also don’t quite know how to prune it. So far it’s just one big long stem, which seems like the right thing, but I gather it will need some more pruning in the future.

These might seem like daft questions but all the advice I’m finding online seems to be geared towards a vine growing in a field, not up and along a wall!

Not that interested in the fruit - although it’ll be a nice bonus - more interested in the appearance.

Thanks,

Rafe

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Posts

  • AlchemistAlchemist Posts: 273
    edited May 2019
    If you really want to grow it in this spot, you should be potting this up in a significantly larger pot using a loam based compost and need good sun for it to crop well.  Following, you can prune it like an indoor grape (several you tube videos) or use a modified curtain method rhs pruning/training book has a good section on this), which I use along my fence in a mixed herbaceous border. Briefly, you grow your leading shoot to the height you want cutting side shoots to 3-4 leaves. Ones you reach the very top (the concrete bit) train it side ways and let select branches to hang over (in its own weight) to the required height) whilst rubbing out unwanted shoots in between. Keep the side shoots developing from the hanging down branches to 3-5 leaves and remove any grapes for 1-2 years. 

    Also have seen posts from other experienced grape growers in the past and hopefully will come up with more options. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It looks more like a sycamore sapling than
    a grapevine to me ... I might be wrong but I have a grapevine and the leaves don’t look like that to me ...

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • gregorhanslikgregorhanslik Posts: 31
    edited May 2019
    Here's another photo, if that helps. Last winter all the leaves fell off and it was just a thin vertical spike.


  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Can we have a photo of the trunk please?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • gregorhanslikgregorhanslik Posts: 31

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    I am tempted to second the sycamore ID. Grapes don't often just appear on their own but sycamore are notorious for it. I have had grape seedlings appear below an established vine but they don't grow that big in one year.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    That is a sycamore sapling. Sorry. 😢. Best get rid of it. They’re not a tree that’s suitable for most gardens.  

    If if you’d like some suggestions for a climber for that spot that would bd happy in a container you could start a medium thread ... I’m sure you’d get loads of encouraging suggestions 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Sorry ... predictive text ... ‘medium thread’? 🙄. I meant ‘another thread’  More apologies from me :blush:

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • AlchemistAlchemist Posts: 273
    Well spotted dove! Now looking at the trunk I second not grapes. Never seen a sycamore sapling before 🤔.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Alchemist said:
    Well spotted dove! Now looking at the trunk I second not grapes. Never seen a sycamore sapling before 🤔.
    Growing up on a farm I’ve seen thousands 😉 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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