Grape 'Chardonnay'

Water grapes vines only during dry periods as excessive watering can reduce the quality of the fruit. Apply a mulch of well rotted manure or garden compost to the base of the vines in spring to retain moisture at their roots throughout summer. Prune grape vines in winter and train them in summer. Do not allow them to carry a crop of grapes until their third summer.

• Year 1
• Pruning grape vines in summer: Pinch back the side branches leaving 5 leaves, and reduce any shoots emanating from the side branches to 1 leaf.
• Pruning grape vines in winter: Reduce the main stem by two thirds and cut back side branches to 1 bud.


• Year 2
• Repeat the same process in the second year, cutting side branches back to 5 leaves of the current season's growth in summer, and reducing the main stem and side shoots in winter.


• Year 3
• In the third summer, allow 2 bunches of grapes to develop per side branch. Prune away any lateral growth from 2 buds beyond the second bunch of fruit on each branch. The fruit can be harvested when ripe from early October.

Water grapes vines only during dry periods as excessive watering can reduce the quality of the fruit. Apply a mulch of well rotted manure or garden compost to the base of the vines in spring to retain moisture at their roots throughout summer. Prune grape vines in winter and train them in summer. Do not allow them to carry a crop of grapes until their third summer.

• Year 1
• Pruning grape vines in summer: Pinch back the side branches leaving 5 leaves, and reduce any shoots emanating from the side branches to 1 leaf.
• Pruning grape vines in winter: Reduce the main stem by two thirds and cut back side branches to 1 bud.


• Year 2
• Repeat the same process in the second year, cutting side branches back to 5 leaves of the current season's growth in summer, and reducing the main stem and side shoots in winter.


• Year 3
• In the third summer, allow 2 bunches of grapes to develop per side branch. Prune away any lateral growth from 2 buds beyond the second bunch of fruit on each branch. The fruit can be harvested when ripe from September.

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