How to grow grapes

Grapes are becoming much more widely grown in the UK, with vineyards appearing on sunny hillsides in warmer regions, producing many award-winning wines. Grapevines (Vitis vinifera) also make an attractive feature in gardens, but for a successful crop of ripe grapes, they need a particularly warm, sheltered, sunny location or the protection of a greenhouse. Still, with our warming climate, the range of growing sites is ever expanding.

Grape varieties are classified as either wine or dessert grapes, although there is some overlap. Wine varieties tend to ripen more reliably than dessert types in the UK, but are not usually too good for eating. There are also a few dessert varieties that will crop outdoors in very warm, sunny spots, usually in southern England. Both types can also be grown in a greenhouse, where their grapes will ripen much more reliably.

Grapevines are fast-growing climbing plants that need plenty of space. They will happily scramble over pergolas and arches, or can be trained along horizontal wires attached to sunny walls, fences, sturdy posts or the internal framework of a greenhouse. To get the best crop, vines need regular attention throughout the growing season, including careful pruning, training and fruit thinning.

There are two main types of grapes – dessert grapes (for eating) and wine grapes – although some varieties may be suitable for both uses.

• Dessert grapes need warmer temperatures to ripen well, so usually need to be grown in a greenhouse in the UK. In very warm sites, especially in southern England, selected varieties may ripen outdoors too. Seeded grapes tend to fare better than seedless varieties
• Wine grapes can be grown outdoors in milder regions. The grapes aren’t usually too good to eat – they tend to be small, often with lots of seeds and a tough skin. Winemaking can be fun, but it can take skill to achieve good results

Within the two categories there are many varieties, offering white, red or black fruits, seeded or seedless, with different flavours, levels of sweetness, ripening times, hardiness and resistance to disease.