If planting your grapevine outside, choose in a very warm, sheltered, sunny site, at the base of a support such as sunny wall.
Avoid sites prone to late frosts, which can damage new shoots in spring.
Most soil types are suitable, but grapevines need well-drained soil that doesn’t get waterlogged.
If you have heavy or light soil, add plenty of well-rotted organic matter.
Also check your soil’s pH – grapevines prefer a pH of 6.5 to 6.8.
Vines are best planted while dormant, between October and March, as long as the ground isn’t frozen.
However, planting in spring preferable to avoid winter damage to the young plants.
Before planting, put a good support system in place and enrich the soil with home-made garden compost or well-rotted manure, plus a general purpose fertiliser at a rate of 100g (3oz) per square metre/yard.
Grapevines should be planted at the same depth they were in the pot.
When planting against a wall or fence, position the vine at least 20cm (8in) away from its base to allow space for the roots to spread out.
When planting a bare-root vine, position it so the first roots are just below the soil surface – look for the soil mark at the base of the stem as a guide.
If the plant is grafted, make sure the graft point on the stem is kept well above the soil surface
If planting more than one grapevine, space them 1.2m (4ft) apart.
And if you have room for a mini-vineyard, ideally on a south-facing slope, space rows 1.5–1.8m (5–6ft) apart, running north to south.
After planting, mulch with well-rotted organic matter such as garden compost or well-rotted manure.