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Vines

InfoODcKtfVGInfoODcKtfVG Posts: 6
in Plants
Just in process of buying a mature vine ,the humph says a large hole ,no problem ,it then says fill with organic material ,what does it mean organic material ?also if I dig the hole big enough should I introduce some chalk for drainage?

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I would use bagged farmyard manure from a garden centre as first choice for the organic matter.  If you make your own compost, then use that.  Otherwise, look in garden centres for 'soil improver' or, as a last resort, multi-purpose compost.  Whatever you use, you need to dig it in to the general area, especially the sides and bottom of the hole, rather than just digging a hole and filling it with the organic material in one 'lump', which will do more harm than good.  Don't add chalk as it is alkaline and the vine may struggle to take in the correct nutrients from the soil (it will develop yellow leaves if that happens.)
    A mature vine will need lots of watering just to keep it alive (at least 2 bucketfuls, 3 times a week until it drops its leaves in autumn after which you can water it just once a week until leaves start appearing in late spring next year.)  In a year's time it should have grown enough new roots to sustain itself and you can just water it when there has been no rain for a couple of weeks.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • InfoODcKtfVGInfoODcKtfVG Posts: 6
    Thank you for that ,would well rotted horse manure do as we keep horses ?the vines in question have been in pots ,do I just transplant or shall I pull the roots out a little bit ?
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    What sort of vines BTW? 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Yes, well-rotted horse manure is perfect and yes, pull the roots out a bit, especially if they are running around the bottom of the pot (try not to damage them, obviously.)
    As @BizzieB says, is it a grape vine (that's what I assumed)?
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • InfoODcKtfVGInfoODcKtfVG Posts: 6
    Yes it’s a grape vine ,the main bit is about 3 ft tall and about 2 inches in diameter with some top and side shoots ,looks healthy 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I hope it establishes well and you get to enjoy the fruit of your labours in the future. :smile:
    These days, the recommendation is to dig a square hole rather than a round one as it seems to encourage the roots to move out into the surrounding soil, rather than keeping going round in circles as they do in pots.  That's also the reason to fork the manure into the surrounding soil.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    I thought it was but you never know
     Americans call all sorts of climbers vines, passion flower etc. 

    Good luck with it, hope you get some grapes in time. 
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