How to start an urban vineyard in your back garden

17 Nov 2014
Sam Falconer

Contrary to belief, there's no reason why you can't grow bottle-quality grapes in a British city.

The climate is hospitable – there are over 400 large-scale operations in the UK – and space isn't an issue. Marko Bojcun, who runs courses on urban viticulture in central London, explains.

Select optimum grapes
"You need early-flowering, early-ripening grapes that are resistant to mould and mildew," says Bojcun, who's spent 20 years experimenting with varieties. For white, try Madeleine Angevine, which will set its fruit even when it's raining; for red, opt for Regent, which produces a full-bodied flavour.

Lay down roots
Plant between winter and early spring. Allocate each vine a square metre 60cm deep (expect a dozen bottles per vine). "The important thing is the vertical plane – vines climb."

A south-facing wall with a trellis is ideal. Enrich the soil with manure first. Water only in the first growing season.

Manipulate the wind
"There needs to be a good airflow around the vine, to keep it clean from mould and mildew and various airborne pests," says Bojcun. But British cities can get windy and too much wind will tire it out. His trick? Erect a slatted barrier, such as a garden fence, to break up the flow while being careful not to block light.

No sun? No problem
Put a steel pipe up the wall. Insert a vertical stake and four-metre-long cutting down the middle, and cover with soil until only a few nodes protrude. Water the cutting for three days, then cover with a solar tube. Once the vine has cleared the top of the structure the following autumn, remove the tube.

Prune hard
Every winter, remove 90 per cent of the wood. "A vine, left alone, will grow into a tangled mess. It may produce a lot of fruit but it will never ripen because there's too much." You need to make sure the grapes are spread out evenly and there's good air and light access. "People don't cut the vine back hard enough."

It will take three years before a vine produces drinkable grapes. In the winter before first harvest, plant basil around it.

Then do the pressing, fermenting and bottling yourself, or enlist help, such as Bojcun's Community Winemaking Scheme.