Experiment Progress.

Back in the winter whilst winter pruning I decided to do an experiment using a technique victorian gardeners knew only too well. Called pot layering they perfected it to such an extent whole potted fruiting vines were created in a single season to provide a table centerpiece for high society gatherings.

A Phoenix shoot was fed through the bottom of a large pot to see if it will root thus providing a larger plant for planting out with it coming into bearing earlier.

Look how well it's growing. Of course it is being sustained by the parent vine obviously drawing sustenance from it. Logically it's also returning some nourishment back.

The question will be whether it's forming roots of its own. If so the first part of the experiment will be successful, if not then it's back to the drawing board.

The severing will take place in august as after that time the parent vine will need to concentrate on ripening it's fruit.

Spot The Important Difference.

Whats the difference between this picture of a grape cluster and the ones I have posted recently?

Well the first obvious difference is the lack of stamens that make up the grape flowers. Look closer and you are not seeing unopened flowers but set fruit. The variety is Brant.

They are only small now but they will quickly swell, becoming recognizable grape clusters in the next week or two.

Phoenix Joins The Party.

The Phoenix vine has started flowering joining the others that are already busy pollinating themselves. I say themselves because grape vines need no insect activity to set fruit.

Against this fence Phoenix is one of the first varieties to ripen. Up to three weeks earlier than if it were grown in an open vineyard. Often harvest occurs only a couple of days after Madeleine Angevine.

More Flowering.

After what seems an age both the Chardonnay and Regent vines have started flowering. It is about two weeks later than other years but at least they have started.

Here is the Chardonnay clearly showing the first stamens.

The first flower clusters of the Regent vine grew to a size I though they could begin flowering then seemed to hold till less developed clusters caught up. Rather frustrating for me but possibly making for more even ripening in the autumn.

It could mean the later flowering will mean a later harvest but we shall see how the rest of the growing season goes.

Rootstock Options.

The scion or variety bud on one of the grafted vines has died. There is no sign of buds breaking at all. Yet the plant itself is far from dead, this shoot has grown from the rootstock.

So I now have four options:

1. Discard the plant. To me this flies in the face of logic.

2. Leave the rootstock to grow where it is and attempt grafting when the wood is thick enough.

3. Transplant it outside in the autumn so grafting can be attempted with an outdoor variety. This has the advantage of freeing up polytunnel space for a new plant.

4. Grow the rootstock to provide cuttings so eventually many more vines can be grown as grafted vines.

There is still plenty of time to decide, especially as I now have a rootstock to play around with.

Extra Growth Undercover.

The vines in the greenhouse and in the polytunnel have really taken off. You would probably expect them to grow better than their outside planted counterparts but what a noticable difference.

This is the Cabernet Sauvignon vine almost reaching to where the roof begins.

And this is Lakemont, again good first year growth.

Also Muscat Bleu, likewise good strong growth. Now I know how californian growers can get vines into limited bearing in two years - they have the climate.

And what a surprise. I thought the Gagarin Blue cuttings were not going to take but this one wants to live. What a healthy looking cutting budding out.

Brant The Cover Vine.

Brant is often rightly recommended as a good decorative cover vine for its striking autumn foliage and hardy constitution.

However because of this years wet, windy and cool weather (at least up to now) it is the Brant that is being covered - a role reversal if ever there was one.

The next three weeks are the most critical time of the year when we hope for warm sunny weather as the vines come into flower because grapes generally will not set fruit in wet, cold weather. When they do manage to set some fruit the resultant bunch is usually poor meaning a reduced yield.

While Brant is a variety that is rather late to ripen it is usually the first of the varieties I grow to begin flowering so in an attempt to keep the flowers dry and raise the temperature around the inflorescences I have covered the plant with bubble plastic, hoping to increase the chance of a decent fruit set.

And these Brant flowers are looking good in their sheltered environment.

This is the first year I've done this. only because of the bad weather. I don't want a repeat of the hopeless 2007 washout season.

In many ways it's a shame the Brant is being taken out at the end of the year to make way for Dornfelder.

More Cuttings Success.

Following on from the table grape cutting successes what about wine grapes?

These Solaris are looking good. They seem to be growing nice and strongly.

I'm really pleased as Solaris is one of the best suited varieties all over the UK.

It looks like I also have signs of rooting in this Oberlin595 cutting too.

Rare Auguste Louise.

Auguste Louise is not a name that easily trips of the lips when you are asked about grape varieties. I know of only one place that offers it. Yet it is said to be a good sized table grape that ripens well and early.

It is also said to be a weak grower although it may be that it simply needs more care. Some varieties don't perform well in open vineyard situations needing to be kept weed free and fertilized to keep growth strong. In other words they like the good life with plenty of tender loving care.

So while the rare Auguste Louise is hard to find if my experience is anything to go by it is not hard to propagate. See I have five cuttings from five rooted.

They are a little close together but digging them up to space them further apart is not a good idea at this stage. But they seem happy enough as am I.

Cuttings Rooted.

The cuttings in the polytunnel are really showing signs of rooting now. I counted 18 definitely taken from 42 planted so that's just over 40%.  Not great but 18 new plants - excellent!

Including these two Interlaken cuttings.

And here is a Glenora cutting

I'm very pleased with these Kyoho, the variety with the largest grapes of all. Although it looks like two have rooted there are actually three in total that have taken.

A Dose Of Salts.

Regent is a variety that is prone to magnesium deficiency. The visible symptoms are yellowing between the veins in the leaves.


Here is one of the Regent vines from two years ago showing classic symptoms of magnesium deficiency.

Last year it was even worse with the vine showing symptoms really early. So it had an application of epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) last august and another before growth started in march this year.

What a difference it has made. These new leaves are a healthy shade of green without any sign of deficiency whatever. You could say it is enjoying a good dose of salts.