Key is to regularly water newly-planted plants, at least bimonthly for two months. Grapes differ from other fruiting plants in that their roots grow deep, so a thorough watering is necessary. It is also important to ensure adequate spacing (1.8-2.7m) between vines, depending on what planting system you use.
Dig a hole twice the radius of the rootball. Before planting, drench the rootball. Place the pot in the hole, ensuring it sits no lower than an inch below ground.
Fill the hole with a mix of compost and garden soil, and add fertiliser and mycorrhizal fungi. Do not compress the soil. Give your plant a good watering. Add mulch on top whether bark and wood chippings, compost, manure, leaf-mould and stones. Make sure mulch doesn't touch the stem.
Grape vines can be challenging to grow, depending on your location and its sunlight hours. Below we address some common queries:
- Hardiness: while grapes originate from the Mediterranean and Central Asia, they are hardy enough to survive the UK's winters, although can suffer from frost damage. To avoid this, be sure to plant in a south-facing location.
- Position: in the UK, the greatest barrier to successful fruiting is a lack of sunlight, so planting in full sun is recommended, especially in the case of grapes. Planting your vine in a sheltered spot will help prevent uprooting and allow it to put more resources into fruiting.
- Soil Types: grape vines benefit from deep soils, but 3ft is adequate, and every plant will adapt to its conditions. The fertility and granularity of the soil determines fruit size, but small fruit size is not necessarily a negative with grapes, as grapes with larger skin to juice ratios are perfect for winemaking. Waterlogged soils will starve your vine of oxygen, which plays a key role in photosynthesis, cause its roots to rot and create the perfect environment for many diseases.
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