Bred in Germany, Grape ‘Dornfelder’ is a very good UK garden grape, known for amazing flavour and good sized blue-black grape fruits that work perfect in desserts, or for making wine and juices. An early ripening variety, that is prolific and vigorous, it won’t take much maintenance to get ‘Dornfelder’ cropping masses of juicy grapes. Shows good resistance to disease for even healthier crops. Foliage leaves are large and in autumn give a great display of colour – try training over a pergola for a stunning Mediterranean look. Height of cordon trained vine: 1.8m (6′). Spread of cordon trained vine: 1.5m (5′). Untrained plants may reach up to 8m (26′).Estimated time to cropping once planted: 2 years.Estimated time to best yields: 3 years.
Growing Information
When growing grape vines choose a sunny position in any well drained soil. A south facing position against a wall is ideal. Grape vines require sturdy support for their twining stems. Before planting, prepare a framework of wires stretched horizontally between two sturdy 1.8m (6′) posts or attached to a warm wall. Prior to planting, incorporate plenty of well rotted manure or garden compost into the soil. Plant grape vines against the wire supports, allowing a distance of 2m (6′) between plants. After planting, reduce the newly planted grape vine back to height of the lowest support wire, and cut back any side shoots to one bud, before tying the main stem in to the supporting wires.
