Grape Vines

[Rossmoyne]

Many of my friends with grapevines had masses of grapes last year but none this year. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why this might be?

[terambulan]

Me too....can't work it out.....had one bunch on vine which usually yields more than a 2 wheely bins? No plums or damsons either but loads of apples & pears. Cherries sparse; few hazlenuts, no walnuts, measly chestnuts.....bad yields! Must be the EEs - they're the only new crop!

[jno]

I had plenty - all inedible of course (the seeds are bigger than the grapes are) but looked fine. Fair number of apples (Worcester pearmain) but hardly any plums. I'll never understand any of this. It wasn't as if late frosts killed them off or anything, as sometimes happens

[terambulan]

Am told t'was lack of rain? Lost a few trees as well, inexplicably? Have noticed when it does rain the water doesn't soak into the ground but runs off top surface.

[jno]

in hot summers 10+ years ago the ground would go brown and crack, terambulan, but these days, even when it is hot (ie not for a few years now), it stays green all summer and water is visible in the hole where the washing line sits. And yes, when it rains the water runs off. Conclusion: the ground is permanently near-waterlogged these days. And that is in spite of us living on a hillside, near the top and way above the nearest floodplains. So I don't think dryness can be the problem, at least not in our garden.

[terambulan]

And I though it was compaction underground? Or, more likely, bluddy golf courses that divert streams etc.....too many of them near me! Ponds almost empty and worse, being filled in!

[Ethel]

Mine were the same - last year pounds and pounds of edible black and white grapes; this year, very few

Too much rain and not enough sun, I thought

[Twenty20]

And the same here too. We have two vines but had hardly any grapes this year, whereas last year we had loads.

[Clanad]

I read with interest all of the various comments and see no discussion of the art and science of pruning. One must keep in mind that grapes are produced this year on last season's new wood... One must prune aggressively and knowledgeably, or risk having little or no crop.
Most varietals are self pollinizing so, the current world's problem with bee colony collapse disorder shouldn't be a concern.
Additionally, grapes grow new growth called shoots from spring blossoms. These should be judiciously prunied so as to eliminate all but the strongest.
Grapes really need cool roots. Here, in the western U.S., our summers can turn quickly hot and dry. After dormant season pruning and mulching the root system in the spring, we lay some fairly large rocks (of which we have an abundance... need some?) around the base of each vine to help it retain moisture and coolness...
Best of luck!

[Rossmoyne]

Many thanks to everyone for their contributions. Will pass your thoughts on to my friends in deepest darkest Hampshire!