Great grapes in any space

Whether you've got a greenhouse, a pergola or just a patio, grapes can thrive with the right pruning and care. David Patch shares expert tips for training vines and choosing the best varieties for every setup

- David Patch

Back in the Victorian era, almost every private estate would have at least one heated vinery specifically for the culture of grapes - it was considered a sign of social prestige for both the landed gentry and the newly-rich industrialists to have picture perfect bunches of home-grown grapes for the table. The methods their head gardeners developed through trial and error, generally called 'rod and spur' pruning, still hold true to this day, even if most of us will be growing grapes in a polytunnel or small greenhouse rather than a large, elaborately glazed structure in an imposing walled garden.

Traditionally, vines were planted vertically about 1.2m apart, just in front of the brick wall at the back of a lean-to glasshouse. They would then be trained up and over the inside of the glass roof, ideally keeping the supporting wires 40cm or so away from the glass to prevent scorching. From this permanent 'rod', lateral shoots would appear each spring (the 'spurs'), which after four or five leaves would produce a bunch of flowers. These spurs would then be pruned back to one leaf after the flowers/grapes, to make sure as much energy as possible went into the fruit rather than making luxuriant new growth.

In a modern small greenhouse or polytunnel, it is more practical to plant a single vine at the gable end, away from the door, and train the rod horizontally under the ridge or apex of the roof. Try to keep a nice gap between the vine and the glass/plastic - good air circulation is crucial for plant health.