Climbing Plants Top Ten – Grapevines

Posted April 25, 2011 by admin in Blog, Climbing plants | No comments yet

The final entry in our top 10 climbing plants series is the Grapevine,. With a little care and attention a vine will produce not only colourful foliage which makes great screening but also a wonderful crop of edible grapes that can be eaten or indeed  for the more adventurous, pressed into service to make home-made wine.

Grapevines available are a perfect solution to provide needed cover for holes in a garden fence or over walls within your property. They enjoy a rapid growing capability when planted around autumn to early spring time. As well as giving you the climber cover required, fruit from the vine will also be in welcome abundance!
Height: Up to 3 metres
Flowers: Blooming/ripening periods vary according to vine type
Family: Vitis

The Vitis, or grapevine family consist of around sixty different vine types. The many categories of grapevine that produce grapes for wine making purposes or dessert pleasures, makes the effort to grow this climber a most beneficial one. Plant seeds within the period of September to May and be aware that this type of plant would best be suited for more experienced gardeners.

The ‘Muscat of Alexandria’ grapevine is one such variety that can produce many bunches of grapes where sufficient room allows. It is a grape of some popularity and of green-amber variance, producing dependable and sweet tasty, juice laden grapes. Correct training will allow the plant to grow high towards the roof space of greenhouses.

Vigorous pruning during the winter and lighter trims over the summer months is important which maintain the vine’s actual growth. During hotter weather, the plants could require weekly watering.

A quality grape vine range is available that can be cultivated within soil of a well drained nature, alongside a west or south pointing wall and fence. Four supporting wires need to be positioned against a fence or wall serving as the vine structure and the vine plant will require planting within a larger, deeper hole than the plant’s root ball, around 15cm from the wall or fence area. After refilling the planting hole, the root ball must be adjacent to the surface area of the soil.

A cane is then placed to the rear of the vine which is then secured to the supporting structure on the fence or wall. Gardeners should permit a triple growth of three stems to form in a vertical fashion over the first year, which are then attached to the cane and require exact pruning.

We’ve had fun putting together our climbing plants top ten, here’s the list of our chosen plants. As always, if you have any suggestions, hints or tips do get in touch and let us know.

Not listed in order of preference here’s our selection of climbers for 2011:

Grapevines
The potato vine
Jasmine
Ivy
Wisteria
Russian Vine
Passion flower
Honeysuckle
Clematis
Wisteria