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Plant against a South, South-East or South-West
facing wall during October / November or February / March. March is
the best time to plant outdoors. Cover with 4 inch layer of compost.
Add support wires 1 ft apart and 9 inches away from the wall. Plant
firmly to the old soil mark. Add a cane as support. Cut back main
shoot to 2 ft and tie into the cane. Cut back side shoots to one
bud. Thin the fruit if the crop becomes too heavy. |
During spring and summer of the 1st and 2nd years
after planting train the leader up the cane and tie in. Train the
laterals along the wires, one to the left, one to the right. Cut
back the laterals to 5 leaves and remove the flowers. in November /
December shorten the new growth of the leader by half and cut back
the laterals to 1 inch from the leader. In subsequent years follow
the guidelines above but when the flowers appear in spring cut back
fruiting laterals to 2 leaves beyond the truss. For the first few
years keep just one bunch per lateral. Once the leader reaches the
top of the cane treat it like a lateral. |
All soils but clay and shallow chalks. Ensure good
drainage. A month before planting remove all weeds, add well-rotted
manure or compost. |
Apply fertiliser and mulch in spring. Feed with
high-potash liquid fertiliser during fruiting. |
Water thoroughly and regularly during dry weather.
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It is
difficult to tell if a grape is ripe by look alone. Taste to be
sure. Remove the whole bunch by cutting the branch 2 inches either
side of the stalk. |
Can be kept for 4 to 8 weeks by cutting with a length
of branch attached and putting one end in water. Store in cool dark
place. |
