Re: Vitis vinifera in container


>   I'm preparing my cousin's terrace on his penthouse and he would
>like to set in pot some climbers, among which a plant of Vitis vinifera
>to create a wide shaded zone. I would like to please him, even if I've
>never actually seen such a plant (which thrives in our region by the
>way)in pot.
>   My question is, which should be the least dimension of the final pot,

Grape vines have long been grown very successfully in large pots here
in the UK and I see no reason why they should not succeed equally as
well in northern Italy.  As far as pot size is concerned, the largest
practicable is always best - certainly no less than 45cms.diameter and
similar in height.  Plenty of good drainage, plus a rich soil based
compost mixed with some well rotted manure is essential for continued
good growth and of course, plenty of water - especially during the
growing season.  Growth rates are naturally rather less than those
planted in the ground, but you should easily get a vine to grow to 4
metres or more in such a container.  Fruiting is often marginally
heavier pro-rata on pot grown specimens than on those given a free
root run, but the vine's success in this area depends entirely upon
correct pruning and daily maintenance especially in summer.  

As mentioned before, the vine will need moderate to heavy watering
depending upon summer heat and additional feeding with a good, high
potash, liquid fertiliser at least once per week during the growing
season will also be necessary.  Every spring, before growth
recommences, the top 10 cms. of old compost should be replaced with
fresh and about every 5 or 6 years, the entire plant should be removed
from the pot, the oldest roots lightly trimmed back and as much old
compost as possible carefully teased out.  The vine can then be
replanted into the original (or better still larger) container with
fresh compost and manure carefully worked in around the roots. 

Training and pruning consists of selecting one or two strong stems to
grow on and provide the main framework for the vine in the first year
or two:  Generally, a young, dormant plant is potted and cut down to 3
or 4 buds in the first winter.  When growth resumes, only the
strongest shoots (no more than 2) are allowed to remain and then
trained into position.  When they have reached the desired length or
by early August, the shoot tips can be pinched out and all subsequent
side shoots pinched out after 6 leaves.  In winter, the side shoots
should be cut back to about 3 buds from the base.  

During the following spring, if further height extension to the vine
is required, the strongest, uppermost shoot is allowed to grow on
normally and trained into position, pinching the tip out in early
August as before.  All other growth which will now consist of side
shoots, should be stopped at the 6 leaf stage.  Again in winter, all
side shoots are pruned back to within 3 or 4 buds of the base.  These
should then provide the first flowers (and hopefully fruit) in year 3.
Allow the shoots to develop 6 leaves beyond the flower cluster before
stopping and then stop all subsequent side shoots at 6 leaves.  In
time, the vines will have one or two main stems, each carrying a mass
of fruiting spurs along their entire length.  This method will provide
reasonably good quality fruit for the table if the bunches are
properly thinned.  

Given the above treatment, a vine can be expected to last a very long
time - at least 20 or 30 years - probably more.  When I was much
younger, an aunt of mine had a magnificent old country house (which
sadly is now a hotel-restaurant)  and there she had a dozen, ancient
vines which had been growing in large pots for at least 50 years.
These had been potted up originally by my great grandfather some time
before the start of WW1.  The quality of the fruit was exceptional and
far better than any I've tasted since from vines grown by the more
conventional method.   

All of this sounds very promising, but you have to remember that
containerised vines are essentially very high maintenance plants and
any amount of neglect can not only ruin a season's crop, but also the
entire vine.

HTH

Dave Poole
TORQUAY   UK
http://www.ilsham.demon.co.uk/gardenviews.html
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