Grapevine

pclark42

I have always wanted to grow a grapevine, so this year I purchased one in January, the people at the nursery advised me to cut it back to 3 buds from the base of the stem, as it was I suppose it was near 2 foot long, so when ready to plant I cut it as told, I waited and waited for some signs of life, then just when I was beginning to think it was dead the 3 buds began to show life, i watered the area with tomato feed, but maybe only once every 10 days, the buds turned into leaves and the stems grew longer, now the taller of these shoots has a flower beginning to show, a sort of bluish mauve shade, but I was expecting it to grow like a climbing bean, so i read something from the RHS that says all flowers in the first year should be removed? I can't go back to the nursery due to them being on lock-down, does anyone on here have advise, should I leave it alone and let it grow? I'm going to post a picture later so you can see the development.

JoeX

Yeah, Id just leave it to grow this year.  Ive had mine in the ground two seasons and Ill look at trimming them in the coming winter.  They take a while to get going in my experience.

Was there a particular question you had?

mrtjforman

seems a bit early for a flower but you can always remove the grapes once they are more recognisable. You have a couple of months before the plant will start wasting any energy on fruit.

A picture would help to see if this flower is in fact a grape

pclark42

Just took this photo of grape and noticed something eating leaves, and edges of leaves are turning Brown , i have put slug pellets near it.

JoeX

Looks pretty healthy to me if a little dry/heat has damaged those leaves.

What have you got it inside and can you get it in the ground?

pclark42

It is in the ground but within the polytunnel 

Conpj

Better to remove flowers in first year. Doing well to have them at all. Roots need to develope

tui34

Quite frankly, I would let it get on with growing.  When in doubt - leave it out!!  It's looking good - nothing wrong with a bit of brown on the leaves.  Don't overwater it - they are hardy plants.  

pclark42

I can't believe what happened today, I was sat in the polytunnel sowing a few seeds when I thought I saw movement in the corner where the Grapevine is planted, I turned my head slowly only to see a flippin rat crawl in under the framework, I jumped up thinking I would kill it, but it escaped under the frame in the other corner, I ran after it, but it was off. I have now jammed some flat stone down in the corners in an attempt to keep it out, I have also been out and purchased a rat bait station which is now laid in wait for it.

mrtjforman

hope you bait that rat, they can literally chew through cement if they want to. Lovely looking progress on the grape, the polytunnel is working well