[kari]

I have inherited three grape plants with my allotment the two in the greenhouse are growing great & the vines are supported by strings & poles, lots of bunches of pea size fruits, which will be ripe soon hopefully.

The one outside though i'm not sure what to do with, it is like a huge bush  about 5ft tall & 4ft across & has doubled in size in the last couple of weeks, branches are now trailing along the floor & the paths.  There is a large metal stake in the middle which it is tied to, but no other support.

Should I pop in some canes around it tie the branches onto them for support? There are lots of small bunches of grapes starting to appear now, do they need any special care?

[Carrotcake]

Our local Cognac vines are supported by vertical stakes approx 4-5 ft high between which horizontal wire supports are fixed to give a framework for the vines to climb. It might be too late to setup a framework like this now as you might do more harm than good.

About now, the vines are being pruned so that their enrgy is being diverted into the grapes rather than leaf growth.

To give your grapes the best chance of maturing I'd recommend doing the same. They shouldn't need any additional care as the roots will be very deep, so the plant should be able to get everything it needs.

[sunshineband]

CC is right, this is a good time to prune off unfruiting growth.

Take off anyhting back to about two buds from the brown wood and then you'll be able to see what mature structure you might already have underneath, to plan how you can support it next year. Posts and wire would be workable if there is space.

[Snap Dragon]

I have a grapevine that sulked in a pot in the garden for a couple of years.... last year we liberated it to the lottie and put it in the earth next to the shed.

This year is has gone mad and is scrambling up the shed. It has even got minute grapes on it 

Having never understood the ways of pruning and training grapes (and it has been explained to me numerous times  ) should I be cutting the branches back to just after a small buch of grapes to help them along?

I don't want to upset the vine as it now seems so happy.

(Sorry for thread-jacking  )

[sunshineband]

Yes, trim them back to within a bud of each bunch. This gets rid of excess growth and allows wood to ripen wih buds for next year, as well as lettign light and air to the grapes.

Sorry for taking so long to reply 

[Snap Dragon]

Thanks Sunny

I'll go and trim them tomorrow.

I'm really exicted to see the little grapes growing.... I just hope they keep at it

[kari]

Thats great thank you, I will get pruning tonight, theres a few little bunches of grapes forming now so cute.

Good luck with yours snapdragon

[Snap Dragon]

Kari

I'll take some pics and we can compare