In message , David W.E. Roberts
writes

"Kevin J Bailey" wrote in message
...

Can anyone help me on how to take cuttings or successfully root from
layering from a well established outdoor grapevine?
I have tried rooting compound on cuttings in compost in the
greenhouse--nothing. Cuttings in water for about three weeks -- nothing.
Layering vine staked into pot of compost outside off the main plant--
nothing yet.
Any help would be appreciated

When pruning in January, save some ripe wood (brown all through), about as
thick as a pencil, and about a foot long.

Stick a spade in the soil and wiggle it a bit to leave a 'V' shaped notch.
Fill this with sand.
Place one end of your cutting in the sand, firm up, and leave.
Cuttings should root in the first year ready for transplanting.
There are more detailed explanations, but if you plant a dozen cuttings then
you should get at least one new vine.

In fact it's easier than that! My method:

Take cuttings from ripe wood grown in the present season in
December/January, about twelve inches long and with a node top and
bottom (node = where a leaf was the previous year).

Dig a V-shaped trench (with one of the sides vertical) about ten inches
deep and put the cuttings upright in this so that about two inches
sticks out above the ground when the soil is replaced. I never bother
with sand.

Don't disturb for a year and in twelve months you will have rooted
cuttings which can be transplanted where you want. For a dozen cuttings
you will probably get ten new vines!

An even easier method which I often use:

Stick your cuttings in a seven-inch plant pot or larger, fill with earth
and forget about them for a year (apart from watering in a dry spell). I
have about thirty cuttings rooting like this at the moment.

REMEMBER: vines grow like weeds. They are among the easiest things to
root from cuttings of any plant I know, apart from, perhaps, red
currants!

Good luck!

David
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