Grapevine in or outside greenhouse?

[devonuk]

As the title says: is a vine better planted in a greenhouse border, or planted outside the greenhouse and led in through a hole? I have a new greenhouse on its way and need to decide whether to order one with a hole in it.

My view is that planting inside is fine. The greenhouse will contain stuff in containers which will need watering more frequently than the vine does, so no labour saving there, and anyway the vine's roots are going to spread out beyond the greenhouse into the open and therefore partially get the benefit of rainfall. But if I am missing something, and there are valid reasons for planting outside, please somebody let me know.

[roitelet]

Usually a vine is planted outside a greenhouse as it frees up borders inside.

[nickdub]

I've always planted outside and brought the vine in.


If you wanted to avoid making a hole in the wall you might be able to dig under somewhere and bring the vine through that way - the rods are usually v flexible until they get really old.

When I was making a bodged greenhouse I used stone to build up part way on the North side and left an old plastic flower pot in to form a hole for a vine later. When I looked later I found that the bloke helping me build had carefully filled the side of the wall he was working on flush over the pot end with small stones - so I had 1/2 a hole :-)

[Thelma Sanders]

My view is that planting inside is fine..... the vine's roots are going to spread out beyond the greenhouse into the open and therefore partially get the benefit of rainfall.

That's what I've done and it growing strongly in its first year. I just give it a quick watering if I think the soil around it looks very dry, although where it is planted is a couple of feet away from the gutter overflow.

[devonuk]

Usually a vine is planted outside a greenhouse as it frees up borders inside.

Hadn't thought of that. Doesn't really apply to me as everything else will be in big pots.

Thanks for replies. I think I will go with planting inside.

[veggiechicken]

I planted one outside and led it in through a corner cut off a pane of glass. My GH is on a solid base so planting it inside wasn't an option.
Two problems I found - I should have been more ruthless with the pruning as, when in leaf, the vine shaded the plants below. Also, since I'd trained it along the apex of the roof (and I'm short) I couldn't see or reach the bunches of grapes well enough to thin out the grapes - so the bunches were always overcrowded and the grapes too small.

Eventually, I gave in and took it out of the GH and dug up the root outside. It was enormous, arm thickness and covered a lot of ground. I'm glad I couldn't have planted it in the GH as it would have made the beds uneven.

Just my tuppennuth - your choice

[Snadger]

I put mine in a large planter outdoors and trained it inside. The roots eventually broke through the bottom of the planter and it was much happier then with its feet in the soil.

If you look at the ammount of leaf area on a mature vine, and how much it transpires on a hot day, I don't think it would be possible to give it enough water if it was planted indoors.

If the vine was to be kept trimmed to a managable size (Bonsai vine?) then planted indoors or even in a planter indoors you may get away with it.

Btw, the old idea was to bury a dead animal under it to give it nourishment.

[Thelma Sanders]

If you look at the ammount of leaf area on a mature vine, and how much it transpires on a hot day, I don't think it would be possible to give it enough water if it was planted indoors.

My greenhouse is on a metal base and the roots can easily grow under and outside it. Unless you have deep foundations on your greenhouse, which may stop the roots from growing out - I can't see that planting a foot or so either way (in or out) would make any difference.
I thought mine stood less chance of being damaged accidentally if I planted inside.
I'll let you know how mine copes in a few more years

[Scarlet]

Well, my grapevine isn't planted under glass, it's on a south facing wall and most years I have more than enough grapes. Being in the South it's an option worth considering.

[veggiechicken]

Mine are staying outdoors too!

[devonuk]

Well, my grapevine isn't planted under glass, it's on a south facing wall and most years I have more than enough grapes. Being in the South it's an option worth considering.

Too high (800 ft) too wet (60 in/year) too cloudy, and the south-facing wall is full up with apple espaliers. I would get fruit, but it probably wouldn't be much to write home about. I might try with one of the new hardier varieties, but I also want a reliable source of properly sweet Black Hamburg.

[devonuk]

I put mine in a large planter outdoors and trained it inside. The roots eventually broke through the bottom of the planter and it was much happier then with its feet in the soil.

If you look at the ammount of leaf area on a mature vine, and how much it transpires on a hot day, I don't think it would be possible to give it enough water if it was planted indoors.

If the vine was to be kept trimmed to a managable size (Bonsai vine?) then planted indoors or even in a planter indoors you may get away with it.

Btw, the old idea was to bury a dead animal under it to give it nourishment.

Watering isn't a problem. I simplified the situation a bit: the vine in question was planted 2 years ago in the border inside a 6 x 8 greenhouse which is to be dismantled to make way for an 8 x 15 job. So the question really is whether to cut it down to 2 ft and build the new foundations around it, or transplant/replace it outside. In the mean time the current ghouse is poorly ventilated and hot as hell, but the vine thrives. There is a hose permanently at the door so I just blast everything once a day with it. If you look at vines in Spain or Greece they have pretty good drought tolerance anyway.

[Thelma Sanders]

a 6 x 8 greenhouse which is to be dismantled to make way for an 8 x 15 job

Serious case of envy here

When I bought mine in last year's sales I could have had a 12 x 14 for the same price as my 8 x 10 but just don't have enough room for anything bigger *sigh*

[nickdub]

I certainly wouldn't bother transplanting it, but I would take some cuttings from prunings this Winter to grow new vines from. Then you can see how things go, and you will have some new vines to use or give away as you decide.

I did this when we had a new conservatory and my old Black Hamburg got the elbow. My replacement 3 year old vine will produce 3 bunches this year - growing it up inside my workshop which has a poly-carbonate roof.

[Scarlet]

A couple of photos of mine....it is around 65ft long. There are too many bunches to thin out, I just let it do its thing. We've been eating them for a couple of weeks.



I think you will have trouble digging it up to transplant.....they have seriously long roots. I would take cuttings.