Grape 'Merlot'

Vitis vinifera

Hardy Shrub

FROM £34.99

Classic grape variety.

Ideal for wine making.

Best grown under cover in the UK.

Ideal for wine making.

Best grown under cover in the UK.

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Choose available pack sizes:

1 x 3 Litre Potted Plant

£34.99

2 x 3 Litre Potted Plants

£64.99

Description How to Grow More Info Delivery

This well known French wine grape is highly regarded as one of the best claret varieties. Grape ‘Merlot’ produces dense bunches of blue-black fruits which make deliciously plummy wine or a dark red juice if sweetened.. Grape ‘Merlot’ is self fertile, but quite late to ripen. Therefore it should be grown under cover in all but the mildest parts of the UK. Height of cordon trained vine: 1.8m (6'). Spread of cordon trained vine: 1.5m (5'). Untrained plants may reach up to 8m (26').

Plant Size Height Up to 180cm (71in)
Spread Up to 150cm (59in)

Hardiness & Longevity Hardy Shrub

Ideal For kitchen gardengreenhousewalls and fences

Position In full sun

Flowering Months Harvest Months

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Codes
1 x 10.5cm Potted Plant (KF5742)
1 x 3 Litre Potted Plant (KA3706)
2 x 3 Litre Potted Plants (TKA3707)

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.

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.

Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes, etc. are delivered at the appropriate time for planting or potting on. Delivery times will be stated on the product page above, or in your order acknowledgement page and email.

Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of £2.99.

Orders which include any other products will incur a delivery charge of £6.99.

Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products, a maximum delivery charge of £7.99 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered.

Large items may incur a higher delivery charge - this will be displayed in your shopping basket.

Please see our Delivery page for further details, and more information on different charges that may apply to certain destinations.

For more information on how we send your plants please visit our Helpful Guide on plant sizes.