A lack of space need not prevent you from growing grape vines - they thrive in large pots and respond well to being regularly kept in check if their size needs to be restricted. Growing rows in sloped and hilly areas with good drainage and ample sunlight can deliver good results. If you intend to grow your vines in a row, plant the line north-south to allow sunlight to reach both sides of the plants. Carefully positioning vines away from trees and other large plants to ensure they receive full sun all day and making sure they're appropriately protected from biting frosts is key to getting a successful crop, so some planning at the outset is well worthwhile. Grape vines require a sunny, sheltered position, ideally against a south or south-west facing wall protected from frost pockets, in a deep, well-cultivated, free-draining soil. Perfect for trailing over a trellis, pergola or arch, or scrambling up and along the branches of established trees. Deep purple grapes are edible but often left on the vine for ornamental value. Vitis Purpurea ( Purple Grape Vine) - award winning deciduous vine with lobed purple leaves that turn deep crimson in autumn, offering a superb contrast to red brick or stone. Best grown indoors in all except the most mild southern parts of the UK to delivery a reliable crop. Grape Black Hamburg - bears masses of delicious black fruits with a sweet flavour that are great eaten fresh or used to make wine. Responds well to being kept compact for smaller gardens through regular pruning and produces grapes that are very sweet to taste when ripe, perfect for making wine or using as a dessert. Grape Vroege van der Laan - one of the hardiest white grape varieties available, which will fruit reliably outdoors in most areas of the UK if grown in a sheltered, sunny position. Picked grapes are best eaten fresh but will keep for up to 2 weeks if you're lucky enough to have an over-supply. A cold winter, hot summer and late rain leads to the best cropping conditions. Far more straightforward is growing grapes for dessert or table eating - we recommend growing a few different varieties that will harvest consecutively. Using grapes to make drinkable wine is not easy and requires a degree of expert input if you do want to be able to serve up a glass of your own homemade wine at a diner party, the best option is to find a vineyard that partners up with private, small-scale producers and use their expertise to get a good result. There are two types of grapes - dessert grapes and wine grapes - although in practice many are suitable for both so the distinction is not always clear-cut. Gardeners in the milder South of England will fare better with most grape varieties if grown outdoors Gardeners in the milder South of England will fare better with most varieties if grown outdoors, but there are hardier varieties such as grape vroege van der Laan and there is always the option of growing vines under glass in a greenhouse or conservatory. ![]() If cared for properly they make a good long-term investment, especially considering the amazing pleasure of picking a grape fresh off the vine and popping it into your mouth for your own home-made taste of Tuscany. Grapes are surprisingly easy to grow - if you think about the vines with a little trepidation, take comfort from the fact that they're pretty difficult to kill, grow readily in the right conditions and can be kept at a height manageable for you. They can be trained up walls, trellis, arches or pergolas and look particularly stunning when laden with fruit. ![]() Grape vines make an excellent addition to any garden or allotment.
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