Climber
Common grape vine
Vitis vinifera
A vigorous deciduous climber trained on supports. Successful ripening needs a suitable cultivar, sun and a warm site. Regular pruning controls its size and growth. The fruit is dangerous to dogs.
- Size
- 15–18 m high · 2.5–4 m wideVaries by cultivar
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Winter
- Hardy
- Seasonal form
- Deciduous
- Maintenance
- High
Before planting
- Provide a durable support and a sunny, sheltered site with good air circulation.
- Choose a cultivar suited to the local season and temperatures; surviving winter does not guarantee ripe fruit.
- Keep dogs away from bunches and fallen fruit: grapes and raisins can cause serious harm. Seek veterinary help after suspected ingestion.
Why choose it
- Trained stems and large leaves provide seasonal screening on a suitable structure.
- A well-chosen cultivar can produce fruit with appropriate care.
Care
- Train and prune to suit the chosen system: main pruning during dormancy, with green shoot adjustments during the growing season.
- Keep growth airy and prevent shoots from becoming overcrowded.
- Water young plants and containers as needed; the soil must drain excess water.
Good to know
- The large size given describes unrestrained growth; training and pruning can keep a garden vine much smaller.
- Check the cultivar and rootstock requirements, including pollination and local growing problems.