I think this might be duplicating someone's earlier post, but . . .

Do you think I would be able to grow a fruiting grape vine up North? I have
this "walled garden", and the walls are less than fantastic to look at, with
peeling whitewash and stuff. I'm trying to encourage an ivy to grow all over
it, rather than trying to paint it, but it's only about a foot long so far,
so there's a way to go!

Anyway - I have lots of wall space, and wondered about a grape vine. I've
heard that with the warmer summers recently some people have had success
with vines in the North, but I'm not sure. I believe they're relatively
expensive to buy, and difficult to look after, so I don't want to get one if
it's going to be a dead loss.

Also - is it possible to grow a kiwi fruit tree from seed, or is it best to
get a small one and pot it? I have a "magic shelf" inside where I could
easily start one off, I think, even now while it's cold. I don't know if I
would be OK potting it in the spring/summer, though.

Would the same thing be possible for a grape vine, do you think?

Thanks again in advance!

Andrew

On Thu, 8 Jan 2004 21:43:04 -0000, "Andy Hunt"
wrote:

I think this might be duplicating someone's earlier post, but . . .

Do you think I would be able to grow a fruiting grape vine up North? I have
this "walled garden", and the walls are less than fantastic to look at, with
peeling whitewash and stuff. I'm trying to encourage an ivy to grow all over

Cover the wall in govt. surplus camouflage netting until it grows.

it, rather than trying to paint it, but it's only about a foot long so far,
so there's a way to go!

We have three fruiting vines growing in our garden in the Netherlands.
How far up North are you?
--
Martin

On Thu, 8 Jan 2004 21:43:04 -0000, "Andy Hunt"
wrote:

I think this might be duplicating someone's earlier post, but . . .

Do you think I would be able to grow a fruiting grape vine up North? I have
this "walled garden", and the walls are less than fantastic to look at, with
peeling whitewash and stuff. I'm trying to encourage an ivy to grow all over

Cover the wall in govt. surplus camouflage netting until it grows.

it, rather than trying to paint it, but it's only about a foot long so far,
so there's a way to go!

We have three fruiting vines growing in our garden in the Netherlands.
How far up North are you?
--
Martin

On Thu, 8 Jan 2004 21:43:04 -0000, "Andy Hunt"
wrote:

I think this might be duplicating someone's earlier post, but . . .

Do you think I would be able to grow a fruiting grape vine up North? I have
this "walled garden", and the walls are less than fantastic to look at, with
peeling whitewash and stuff. I'm trying to encourage an ivy to grow all over

Cover the wall in govt. surplus camouflage netting until it grows.

it, rather than trying to paint it, but it's only about a foot long so far,
so there's a way to go!

We have three fruiting vines growing in our garden in the Netherlands.
How far up North are you?
--
Martin

"Andy Hunt" wrote in
:

Also - is it possible to grow a kiwi fruit tree from seed, or is it
best to get a small one and pot it? I have a "magic shelf" inside
where I could easily start one off, I think, even now while it's cold.
I don't know if I would be OK potting it in the spring/summer, though.

Kiwi fruit is very easy to grow from seed, and the plants are
surprisingly hardy outside. They grow on twining vines, not trees, so
might be good for your walls.

But if you grow from seed you'll have to wait ages for flowers, and
you'll also need to grow a male and a female plant - as there is no way
to sex the seeds, this means growing far more plants than you actually
need, and keeping them for several years till you can work out which is
which.

There are self-fertile cultivars available, so it would be quicker and
easier to buy a plant. I understand they do need a long warm summer to
fruit through (at any rate, the ones I grew from seed never fruited,
though they made attractive plants.)

I have just planted this autumn a kiwi relative - actinidia arguta
'issai'. This is supposed to be more willing to fruit in our summers
than standard kiwis, self-fertile, and has smaller, bald fruit like big
green grapes. I was greatly cheered when the plant arrived from
www.burncoose.co.uk in October, and proved to be already covered in
fruits, which I was advised to remove. I did, and they were delicious!

Now just hoping that it will perform as well once planted in my own
garden.


Victoria
--
gardening on a north-facing hill
in South-East Cornwall
--

Do you think I would be able to grow a fruiting grape vine up North? I
have
this "walled garden", and the walls are less than fantastic to look at,
with
peeling whitewash and stuff. I'm trying to encourage an ivy to grow all
over

Cover the wall in govt. surplus camouflage netting until it grows.

I know the stuff you mean - cheap as 'owt. Would I be able to use it instead
of a trellis for the vine/kiwi fruit as well? That might be a really good
idea.


it, rather than trying to paint it, but it's only about a foot long so
far,
so there's a way to go!

We have three fruiting vines growing in our garden in the Netherlands.
How far up North are you?

Bury, just North of Manchester.

Andrew

On Fri, 9 Jan 2004 00:13:38 -0000, "Andy Hunt"
wrote:



Do you think I would be able to grow a fruiting grape vine up North? I
have
this "walled garden", and the walls are less than fantastic to look at,
with
peeling whitewash and stuff. I'm trying to encourage an ivy to grow all
over

Cover the wall in govt. surplus camouflage netting until it grows.

I know the stuff you mean - cheap as 'owt. Would I be able to use it instead
of a trellis for the vine/kiwi fruit as well? That might be a really good
idea.

I have seen it done. It looks o.k.



it, rather than trying to paint it, but it's only about a foot long so
far,
so there's a way to go!

We have three fruiting vines growing in our garden in the Netherlands.
How far up North are you?

Bury, just North of Manchester.

a bit further north than we are
--
Martin

There are self-fertile cultivars available, so it would be quicker and
easier to buy a plant. I understand they do need a long warm summer to
fruit through (at any rate, the ones I grew from seed never fruited,
though they made attractive plants.)

I have just planted this autumn a kiwi relative - actinidia arguta
'issai'. This is supposed to be more willing to fruit in our summers
than standard kiwis, self-fertile, and has smaller, bald fruit like big
green grapes. I was greatly cheered when the plant arrived from
www.burncoose.co.uk in October, and proved to be already covered in
fruits, which I was advised to remove. I did, and they were delicious!

Thanks Victoria, I really appreciate your advice. I hope your kiwi relative
works out! I think I'll do what you suggest and get a plant, I might try the
"original brand" first, and see how I go.

The last couple of summers up here have been long and hot, but before that
we had a few very wet ones. But if it's a climate change thing, then that
means that as well as hotter summers we'll be getting colder winters, and it
has been very cold here this winter. Do you think that very cold weather and
frosts might damage the plant in winter? I suppose there's one way to find
out . . . !

When should I put it in?

Thanks again,

Andrew

Thanks Martin - what a good idea. That's exactly what I'll do.

Might be a test case for a pseudo-mediterranean walled garden in darkest
Lancashire!


Andrew

"martin" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 9 Jan 2004 00:13:38 -0000, "Andy Hunt"
wrote:



Do you think I would be able to grow a fruiting grape vine up North? I
have
this "walled garden", and the walls are less than fantastic to look
at,
with
peeling whitewash and stuff. I'm trying to encourage an ivy to grow
all
over

Cover the wall in govt. surplus camouflage netting until it grows.

I know the stuff you mean - cheap as 'owt. Would I be able to use it
instead
of a trellis for the vine/kiwi fruit as well? That might be a really good
idea.

I have seen it done. It looks o.k.



it, rather than trying to paint it, but it's only about a foot long so
far,
so there's a way to go!

We have three fruiting vines growing in our garden in the Netherlands.
How far up North are you?

Bury, just North of Manchester.

a bit further north than we are
--
Martin

Cover the wall in govt. surplus camouflage netting until it grows.

I know the stuff you mean - cheap as 'owt. Would I be able to use it
instead
of a trellis for the vine/kiwi fruit as well? That might be a really good
idea.

I have seen it done. It looks o.k.

Believe it or not, and a million miles away from this little oasis of
civilisation, I used to promote "psychedelic" dance music in clubs in
Manchester, and we used to use this stuff to decorate the clubs. We would
tie "fake" plants and flowers into it, and in the dark under the ultraviolet
lights it looked just like an eerie "enchanted forest" . . .

So there you go!

Andrew

The message
from "Andy Hunt" contains these words:

I think this might be duplicating someone's earlier post, but . . .

Do you think I would be able to grow a fruiting grape vine up North? I have
this "walled garden", and the walls are less than fantastic to look at, with
peeling whitewash and stuff. I'm trying to encourage an ivy to grow all over
it, rather than trying to paint it, but it's only about a foot long so far,
so there's a way to go!

Anyway - I have lots of wall space, and wondered about a grape vine. I've
heard that with the warmer summers recently some people have had success
with vines in the North, but I'm not sure. I believe they're relatively
expensive to buy, and difficult to look after, so I don't want to get one if
it's going to be a dead loss.

On a south or south-west facing wall you should get results. The secret
is (allegedly) to bury a (dead) donkey under the vine, but I couldn't
find one, so I just got a lot of bones from the butcher.

Grape vines aren't expensive. Four or five pounds ought to get you a
decent-sized one. Mine's Black Hamburg, and judging from other people's
BH vines, you'll really have to prune it back to keep it in order. (And
get decent-sized grapes.)

I'd advise getting detailed viticulture instructions before attempting
any pruning - prune at the wrong time of year and your vine could bleed
to death.

Also - is it possible to grow a kiwi fruit tree from seed, or is it best to
get a small one and pot it? I have a "magic shelf" inside where I could
easily start one off, I think, even now while it's cold. I don't know if I
would be OK potting it in the spring/summer, though.

Yes, but leave it a bit until there is more light. They germinate
easily, but lose viability (IME) if you don't plant them fairly quickly
after collection. You will need a male vine as well as a female one if
you hope to get fruit, and I've no idea how or if you can tell the
difference in seedlings.

They are pretty frost-hardy, very decorative, but Pat Gardiner reports
lack of fruit after
Would the same thing be possible for a grape vine, do you think?

The message
from martin contains these words:

Bury, just North of Manchester.

a bit further north than we are

But being on the west side, influenced by the Gulf Stream a bit.

Go for it.

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

On Fri, 9 Jan 2004 02:12:19 GMT, Jaques d'Alltrades
wrote:

The message
from martin contains these words:

Bury, just North of Manchester.

a bit further north than we are

But being on the west side, influenced by the Gulf Stream a bit.

Go for it.

One of mine is thirty years old this year it has survived being moved
from Germany to a third floor box on a balcony and from there to a
garden, temperatures down to -20DegC, an annual dose freezing rain,
several hurricanes ........
--
Martin

On Fri, 9 Jan 2004 00:34:05 -0000, "Andy Hunt"
wrote:

Thanks Martin - what a good idea. That's exactly what I'll do.

Might be a test case for a pseudo-mediterranean walled garden in darkest
Lancashire!

Watch out for experts searching for WMDs :-)
--
Martin

On Fri, 9 Jan 2004 00:39:28 -0000, "Andy Hunt"
wrote:



Cover the wall in govt. surplus camouflage netting until it grows.

I know the stuff you mean - cheap as 'owt. Would I be able to use it
instead
of a trellis for the vine/kiwi fruit as well? That might be a really good
idea.

I have seen it done. It looks o.k.

Believe it or not, and a million miles away from this little oasis of
civilisation, I used to promote "psychedelic" dance music in clubs in
Manchester, and we used to use this stuff to decorate the clubs. We would
tie "fake" plants and flowers into it, and in the dark under the ultraviolet
lights it looked just like an eerie "enchanted forest" . . .

So there you go!

Father Christmas uses it in his fairy grotto in some places.

The stuff is almost indestructible.
--
Martin