Grapevines in polytunnels

[LittleBear]

Hiya, does any one know if its a good idea to have a grapevine growing up on the crop bars in a polytunnel? how well do they work? any particular variety?

Cheers x

[rustylady]

Can definitely be done Littlebear. Used to have one in the cold greenhouse where I used to live. Variety unknown, root outside the greenhouse and led through a low glazing pane. Resulting vine trained espalier fashion along one wall and part of the roof. Red grapes, very good for wine making, and probably if I'd taken more care with pruning and thinning good for eating too. Grapevines make an awful lot of growth in a season, so if you're thinking of growing one you really do need to learn about pruning, thinning, etc, and keep a constant watch. I swear if you sit there with a cup of coffee for 15 minutes you can see them growing in spring and summer.

[LittleBear]

thanks for that rustylady, do u have any idea how i would be able to root outside of a polytunnel without having to cut a hole in the thing as i have no ventilation hatches?

[Snadger]

I have a couple of grapevines growing in my greenhouses. You wouldn't need to cut a hole in the polytunnel plastic as you could plant the vine outside and just have it coming up inside, underneath!

Mine, in it's struggle to get light, forced one of my sheets of glass apart so I'm not sure how it would work with polythene. You would also need to support it which I do from the glasing bars.
The training framework needs to be kept some distance from the glass/polythene so you would have to devise a training system. Vines are also susceptable to mildew if there is no movement of air around them so ventilation would be a must.

Anyway.......undeterred let us know how you get on!

[LittleBear]

thanks for that, any particular varieties that u would reccomend?