Tips on Growing Grapes

It is generally agreed that vines need an absolute minimum of feeding and they have done well in quite light soil where the roots can get hold of moisture at the right time. In fact, it is generally agreed that it pays to plant vines fairly close because the root competition helps to ensure sufficient starvation.

The methods must inevitably vary, depending on the climate, the method of culture and training, and to a certain extent on the individual varieties. Thus pruning on the shores of the Mediterranean is bound to differ enormously from that done, say, in Devonshire. As my friend Mr. Edward Hyams points out, however, in his book The Vineyards of England, published by Messrs. Faber and Faber, there are certain general rules which must be borne in mind.

A vine can be cut hard year after year without there being hardly any increase in height, though there will be an increase in girth. In addition, vines in this country, because of the climate, are usually pruned harder than those on the Mediterranean. The fruit is borne on the new wood; that is to say, the wood made that season.

You prune, therefore, to get new young wood produced, though this may be thinned out so as to leave the desired number of young branches. This thinning out is done because the heavier the crop the greater the difficulty there is in ripening. Again, the nearer to the ground the bunches are found the better the ripening. Too near the soil and they may be attacked by botrytis, too far away and they may not ripen as they should. I believe that 18 inches from the soil is ideal.

In all cases it is most important to spread the roots out evenly and only to plant them about 4 inches below the surface of the soil. The earth must he trodden in firmly-this is important and it does mean, therefore, that one can only plant when the soil is not too sticky. After the planting, when the soil is raked down level, the bone meal is applied.

Some people allow two canes to develop each year: they cut one back hard and they train the other one round. This does ensure a stronger growth and the original bearing rod can then be cut right the way back, so as to prevent it growing again.