[Trillium]

They were, but the UK climate was much warmer and nicer then too.

[buckstar555]

Honestly!!

[Cazzy]

Wilkos have loads of these grape vines at the moment? £3 each

Hi buckstar, I fancy trying one of these but I just done a google search for Wilko/s Scotland and didn't come up with anything.  I was hoping to find one in or near Glasgow, is the one you got the vine from in Fife itself?

Thanx in advance

[buckstar555]

Hi Cazzy, I got my plant/vine from wilkinsons c/d castle douglas the shop has lots of healthy plants? As far as a know c/d is wilkos only store in Scotland its fantastic.

[Cazzy]

Aw, unfair   

Tesco were selling vines last year for a fiver, I thought that was a bit steep but maybe i'll just splash out this year and make some wine at harvest 

[buckstar555]

Yes I know Wilkos should have more Scotish stores!!  Tesco vines? I think they will be just as good, no harm giving them a go. I think Homebase,might have them even better if its the 10% off weekend. Good luck Cazzy

[buckstar555]

Hi, Jeezt a live update to my wee grape vine? Remember, I made clear plastic sleeve/wind protector? Well the vine has life about it shoots,poping out? So still early days but looking good! Once the frost risks away I think should be fine. Thanks for all the past posts.

[grapeguy]

Greetings from Western Canada. What variety are you growing there?. A couple of things you can do to help ripen your grapes

Use a mulch at the base of the vine- This will create more heat units

A plastic tent like structure over the vines ie. temporary greenhouse will also generate
more heat units.

Crop levels- If you remove some of the fruit clusters this will help to ripen the fruit up to a week earlier

If you use varieties that are developed for short season climates you can get your grapes to ripen in your climate.

Cheers

Kim M
Horticultural Consultant
Grapes/ Berry Crops

[realfood]

Amazingly, the three largest grape vine specimens in the World, grown under glass, used to be at the Forth Vineyard at Kippen, in Scotland, where I saw them many years ago. The cutting of the grape variety “Gros Colman”, was planted in 1891, and eventually covered an area of 5000 sq ft (465 sq m) in four long greenhouses that stretched for 300 ft. The main stem had a girth of 55 ins and in 1964 the vine produced 3250 bunches of high quality table grapes, before it was cut down to make way for housing. Sacrilege!!

The first commercial outdoor vineyard in Scotland is on the banks of Loch Tay in Perthshire, where they will make a crisp Riesling wine. You need some 100 days of sun and heat to ripen the grapes to make wine.