Wisteria

[timmyalex]

I have a large and sturdy wooden trellis free standing at the top of our orchard that I have growing up a grape vine. I now want to add a Wisteria on the lefthand side to grow up and into the grapevine. I have never grown Wisteria so am at a loss as to where to start. My questions:

1. When is the best time to plant.?
2. What do I look for in a plant and where best to find a decent variety.?
3. How much can I expect to pay.?
4. Do different colour varieties flower at different times and if so can I plant 2 plants next to each other.?

Think that's about it for now and thanks for any advice given. Much appreciated.

[vicky]

Plant in the spring - choose a plant in flower from your garden centre (they can be slow to start flowering, this method ensures you don't buy a duff plant!). I'd say about £20-25 for a decent 5-6ft plant in flower. Slightly different flowering times but not really enough to make two different ones worthwhile to extend the flowering period. However you can get white/pink/blue so could have a nice multicoloured display? I've found plants on warm south facing walls will flower first.

[TEB]

I have read (cannot remember where) that you have more chance of flowering if the plant has been grafted, we have 2 the one out the front cost about £20.00 a couple of years ago and it was already flowering when we got it (about 6' high), the second was about £5.00 from a supermarket, possible Aldi, Lidl or Morrisons, and was bought about 5 years ago and was about 3' high, this flowered for the first time last year and is now about 30' long both have been grafted and both are blue. Best time to plant is as Vicky says in the Spring but we planted ours in mid summer.