[sandygreen]

I wanted to buy a grape vine but read somewhere that you cannot pick any grapes for three years.  Is this the case for all vines or was it just that particular vine I was looking at?  Three years seems an awful long time to wait!

[Babstreefern]

Yes, that's the case I'm sorry to say.  My first harvest for mine is actually this year

Also, to get a decent harvest of grapes, never water it or feed it, as all the "goodness" will go instead into the leaves and not the fruit, and will result in poor harvest.

[iggyboy60]

I have a Boskoop Glory growing inside my polytunnel. Last year was its first full year. I allowed just one bunch of grapes to develop right at the very bottom of the vine. These grapes turned out to be plump and sweet tasting. This is not what you are supposed to do,but this year I'm going to allow four bunches to devolpe and then every year after that I hope for a full harvest.

[Growster...]

I think growers like to attach a little too much mystery to grape vines.

If you think they survive clinging to a rock in brilliant sunshine in some places, they usually need a good talking to, with correct pruning to stop them answering back!

We had two Muscat vines which took over the greenhouse, and did very lttle for years, except block out the light, and stick to the glass on the roof.

Instead of chucking them out, we planted them on the north side of a 5' wall, in pretty awful soil, and told them to get on with it.

After three years we got a few bunches at the top, which were not enough to enjoy, but last year they began to thrive and get interesting, with three good sized bunches between them.

I think pruning them is the key, and I really don't understand the correct technique yet - hence the suspicion that we can be told a little too much from some experts...

[sandygreen]

Thanks for this, well they say patience is a virtue!  I do like the idea of allowing just one bunch, if I get one, at least it will be something