Well, we have finally moved down to the flatlands. Gardening in the old
house got pushed to the side a bit in the last year or so, but new house
, new and lovely garden, new inspiration and all that :-)

So probably back to a bit more regular urgling.

OK, first question :-)

House is lovely old Victorian house, it has lovely old Victorian
conservatory (an opinion of which when I've had to repair and paint it
all may be revised......)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83014812@N00/12901717/

Containing an approximately 100 year old Grapevine, which crops well
according to previous owners.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83014812@N00/13530717/

The conservatory faces south so plenty of sun and warmth for it. The
vine is growing in the soil outside, and come through the wall into the
conservatory. The vine seems healthy and to be growing very well.

Not had a vine before, what sort of pruning/care does it need. It has
good frame work of old wood across the roof, though a few gaps, the new
growth is growing madly and some is dangling down into the conservatory.
It seems to have plenty of flower bunches.


--
Chris French and Helen Johnson, Cambridgeshire

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Not had a vine before, what sort of pruning/care does it need. It has
good frame work of old wood across the roof, though a few gaps, the new
growth is growing madly and some is dangling down into the conservatory.
It seems to have plenty of flower bunches.

You prune vines twice in the year, once in the spring and once before
the following spring.

It's probably the wrong time to prune now - but when the fruit has set,
cut the lateral with the bunch(es) back so that you leave around three
or four leaves beyond the first bunch.

If the first bunch is weedy, you can snip that, and prune beyond the new
first bunch.

If you prune too early, the vine can bleed profusely, and may even die
as a result. It's best to prune one lateral when the fruit has set, just
to make sure it won't bleed badly when you cut the rest.

Ask again after the fruit has ripened, and you'll find someone to tell
you how to prune it back for next year's crop.

Give it plenty of ventilation, and *NEVER* give it nitrogen.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

In article , Chris French and Helen
Johnson writes
Well, we have finally moved down to the flatlands. Gardening in the old
house got pushed to the side a bit in the last year or so, but new house
, new and lovely garden, new inspiration and all that :-)
Congratulations on your new life Chris.
Does that mean a new job as well?

Not had a vine before, what sort of pruning/care does it need. It has
good frame work of old wood across the roof, though a few gaps, the new
growth is growing madly and some is dangling down into the conservatory.
It seems to have plenty of flower bunches.

Carry out 'summer' pruning now. That means cutting back many of the new
stems which are growing. Where they have flower bunches on them, prune
just beyond the last bunch. Cut back stems which have no bunches to two
buds - those will fruit next year. 'Winter' pruning is done after the
grapes are finished. Then cut back nearly all stems to two buds. At that
stage, the size and direction of the vine can be trained. Vines cannot
really be over pruned, but if they are not done in time, they will
quickly take over.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.