[Agatha]

I've read that you can grow grapes as a standard if your space is limited.  Anyone know if it's ok to get an ordinary vine & train it as a standard or does it have to be specially grafted?

[Trillium]

This is from the RHS site. I know you'll have to stay on top of the pruning because grapes naturally want to spread everywhere, moreso on the variety you choose.


'Growing grape vines in containers: Where space is limited, vines can be pruned and trained as standards, with a single stem with a head of branches at the top. Standards lend themselves easily to container cultivation.

To train a standard:
Train the main stem up a stout bamboo cane. Remove any excess stems appearing from the base
Allow side branches to develop on the main stem for the first one to two years
In the third winter, remove all side branches from the bottom and middle of the stem, leaving only the top branches. Allow five to six side branches to develop at the top
Prune the side branches to five leaves, not allowing them to get any longer
Prune any side shoots developing form the side branches to one lea
Only allow one bunch of grapes to develop in the first cropping year, removing any others that start to develop. In subsequent years, allow one bunch of grapes per side branch
In early winter, prune the side branches back to two buds.'

[Agatha]

Thanks for this - I'd actually looked at the RHS website, but as you can tell, I'm not very computer savvy as I couldn't find anything about standard grapes!   My dad has a Black Hamburg (not grown as a standard) which I have to massacre every year & it still takes over the greenhouse, so I think I'll try to find a less vigorous variety and experiment!

[Agatha]

I found a last year's grape vine with a really strong stem reduced to £6.50 in the garden centre, so I'm going to try it.  The label said that the variety is not too vigorous and suitable for container growing - but it also said that about the Black Hamburg next to it so I'm not sure I believe it!!!