Page 26 - Simply Veg 1 2024

Growing fruit under cover
Many gardeners that I come across have a greenhouse or covered area of some type and generally it seems that if it is used for growing plants tomatoes, cucumbers and maybe melons are the most likely occupants. Indeed, one of my two greenhouses does just that! But there are alternative, fruity uses
to consider which, if simple rules are followed, can be very productive.
Muscat of Alexandria is the finest that you can grow.
Grapes require open, free-draining soil to grow well and it is important to get
this aspect of their cultivation right since water-logged soils can affect them quite badly. Equally grapes need to be kept well-watered and not allowed to dry out at the roots particularly when the bunches of grapes first appear. It is for this reason that
the grape vines are best grown with their roots outside the greenhouse and the stems fed in though a space created, for example, when a lower brick is removed. You are going to need to support the growth well and this is done using the Rod
and Spur System. Inside the greenhouse use fencing type galvanised wire stretched horizontally 300mm apart and away from the glass. For wooden greenhouses you can buy vine eyes to stretch the wire between or for aluminium greenhouses you can buy special vine eyes clips to attach to the aluminium bars. Ventilation is going to be very important so make sure that your greenhouse has at least one but preferably two opening windows.
Having set up your support structure you should plant your vines between November and March ensuring you leave a space of at least 150mm from the wall or greenhouse
The first fruit to
consider are grapes and
yes, I really mean that!
Unfortunately, many
gardeners believe that
growing grapes means
a heated greenhouse
which is a great shame
as there are several
good grape varieties
which are absolutely perfect for growing
in a cold (i.e. unheated) greenhouse or polytunnel. Black Hamburgh is probably the best known and the easiest to grow and the resultant grapes are every bit as good as you will buy in the shops. The famous grape vine at Hampton Court is a Black Hamburgh so it has a Royal support! There are other grapes around which can be grown in a cold greenhouse and these include Buckland Sweetwater, Vanessa and Perlette. If you are able keep your greenhouse heated so that the temperature never drops below 5 degrees C there are more exotic grapes you can grow and
grapes need to be kept well-watered and not allowed to dry out
Grapes ready to harvest
Grapes bunches
side. After planting cut the main stem back by two thirds and any side shoots back to one bud.
In the first year of growth when the
main stem reaches either the top of the greenhouse or wall or when it reaches 3m in length cut back any side branches to five leaves and any side shoots growing from these branches to one leaf. When this is done tie the main stem and branches to the supporting wires. In December/January cut the main stem back by two thirds and the side branches back to one strong bud.
In the second year of growth let the main stem grow. Let one or two of the side branches produce a bunch of grapes and then pinch back the tips of these branches to two leaves past the bunch of grapes. Cut back any side branches not bearing any fruit to five leaves. In December/January cut the main stem back by half to a bud on old (brown) wood and cut back the side branches to 25mm or two strong buds.
In its third year untie the top two thirds of your vine and let it bend down and almost touch the ground. As with tying top fruit branches to produce fruit buds down this will encourage side branches to break along the vine stem.
As soon as buds begin to grow from where the side branches were cut back tie the main stem up again to its supporting structure. Pinch out the growing tips to
26 Simply Vegetables
GERRY EDWARDS FNVS