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How do I renovate very old vine?
in Fruit & veg
Hello
We have recently moved house and have inherited a prolific grapevine in a greenhouse. We are advised it is at least 50 years old and produces lots of dessert grapes every year. It is planted just outside the greenhouse and then runs the full length of it and turns back on itself, so the main stem is probably 25' long.
It is sadly neglected and still has last year's crop on it, which has just withered away of course.
I've read lots of articles on how to renovate an old vine but not many of them seem to apply to the situation I have now. I know that it should have been pruned in early winter, so I'm not sure what to do with it now.
My first thought is to remove all the old fruit, but have no real idea what to do beyond that. All thoughts are welcome, thanks.
I have added some pics, with apologies that they seem to have come out in a different orientation to how they have been saved - not sure how to rotate them!




We have recently moved house and have inherited a prolific grapevine in a greenhouse. We are advised it is at least 50 years old and produces lots of dessert grapes every year. It is planted just outside the greenhouse and then runs the full length of it and turns back on itself, so the main stem is probably 25' long.
It is sadly neglected and still has last year's crop on it, which has just withered away of course.
I've read lots of articles on how to renovate an old vine but not many of them seem to apply to the situation I have now. I know that it should have been pruned in early winter, so I'm not sure what to do with it now.
My first thought is to remove all the old fruit, but have no real idea what to do beyond that. All thoughts are welcome, thanks.
I have added some pics, with apologies that they seem to have come out in a different orientation to how they have been saved - not sure how to rotate them!




No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.

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As this vine produces loads of grapes I'm really not sure about cutting off 25 feet of growth which seems to do what it should.
I seem to recall seeing Monty pruning a similar but much smaller vine with only small snips here and there, leaving the main thick old stem intact. Doesn't mean he was doing it right of course! 😉
I agree with Monty, that long stem is the framework in the case of your vine, don't cut it off. Wine growing grapes are pruned differently, much harder. Yours has been trained along the conservatory and you need to keep it like that. @tui34's vines aren't grown the same way as yours. Next winter just prune all the side stems to a couple of buds, bit like a hard prune to a climbing rose.
In the summer prune new growths off to just a bit beyond where the bunches of buds for the new grapes form and prune off the skinny one that aren't bearing grapes.
I live in Dordogne and I have a vine along the front of my house, like yours, but the summers are warm enough for it to be outside.
The problem with big prunes this time of year is worse in greenhouse vines as they are warmer and normally further along than outside vines.
good luck, I’m envious because growing grapes was one of my favourite things. Not only do you get nice fruit but you’re growing your own greenhouse shading as well.
@Busy-Lizzie, thanks for rotating the photos 😊
@DaveGreig, great point about shading, never thought about that.
It's a dull day here today so possibly a good day to go out with the snips.
We moved down from Aberdeenshire to Co Durham and have now been in the house just short of two weeks. The tended part of the garden is much smaller than I had before, down from 3/4 acre to about a third, but includes the amazing greenhouse with its own water, gas and electricity supply! There is a further 2 acres of parkland which generally needs less work. The previous owners looked after the garden really well until ill health prevented much maintenance in the last two years.
I therefore foresee lots more questions as the garden grows and the season progresses.
I'm strictly no longer a newish gardener so will be looking at how to change my username to something more suitable, so watch this space!😊⚘🌲🌳🍁🌾🌼