- Botanical name: Vitis vinifera
- Common name: Grapevine
- Family: Vitaceae
- Plant Type: Fruit, Deciduous
Golden
Green
Purple
- Key features:
- Fruits
- Prefers rich soil
This grape vine, Vitis vinifera, is a vigorous, high-powered tendril climber, which can easily cover a house wall if left unchecked, covering it in large, lobed, bright green summer leaves up to 15cm long. The tiny green summer flowers are followed by late summer bunches of small grapes.
There are many varieties, which bear grapes that can be eaten as a dessert or used to produce wine – many can be used for both. Some are tender and need the shelter of a greenhouse to crop prolifically, but if you don’t have one, don’t worry, there’s a wide variety that can be grown in well-drained soil in a sheltered spot such as against a south- or west-facing fence or wall.
For a Vitis with strong autumn leaf colour, choose the deep, dark purple variety ‘Purpurea’, and for tasty edible grapes grown against a sheltered, sunny garden wall, try the likes of ‘Brandt’ and ‘Gloire de Boskoop’.
How to grow Vitis vinifera
-
Plant size
1.5m height
1.5m spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Half hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do Plant in October |
N
Do Plant in November |
D
Do Plant in December |
| Fruits | ||||||||||||
| Fruits |
J
Plant does not fruit in January |
F
Plant does not fruit in February |
M
Plant does not fruit in March |
A
Plant does not fruit in April |
M
Plant does not fruit in May |
J
Plant does not fruit in June |
J
Plant does fruit in July |
A
Plant does fruit in August |
S
Plant does fruit in September |
O
Plant does not fruit in October |
N
Plant does not fruit in November |
D
Plant does not fruit in December |
| Take cuttings | ||||||||||||
| Take cuttings |
J
Do Take cuttings in January |
F
Do not Take cuttings in February |
M
Do not Take cuttings in March |
A
Do not Take cuttings in April |
M
Do not Take cuttings in May |
J
Do not Take cuttings in June |
J
Do not Take cuttings in July |
A
Do not Take cuttings in August |
S
Do not Take cuttings in September |
O
Do Take cuttings in October |
N
Do Take cuttings in November |
D
Do Take cuttings in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do not Prune in September |
O
Do not Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do Prune in December |
| Harvest | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
J
Do not Harvest in January |
F
Do not Harvest in February |
M
Do not Harvest in March |
A
Do not Harvest in April |
M
Do not Harvest in May |
J
Do not Harvest in June |
J
Do Harvest in July |
A
Do Harvest in August |
S
Do Harvest in September |
O
Do not Harvest in October |
N
Do not Harvest in November |
D
Do not Harvest in December |
Vitis vinifera and wildlife
Vitis vinifera has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Vitis vinifera poisonous?
Vitis vinifera has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Vitis vinifera
