Top tips for growing vine fruit

GRAPE
Vitis vinifera

Size
Canes can grow 10m or more.

Climate
Humid subtropical, Mediterranean, temperate and semi-arid zones are most suitable but also milder parts of cool temperate zones. Possible in hot arid zones with summer water. High humidity is not helpful.

Frost tolerance
To -10C.

Flowering season
Early spring.

Fruiting season
Late summer and autumn.

Cross-pollination
Not necessary; self-fertile.

Watering
Deeply but infrequently. Grapes won't produce good fruit after dryness.

Feeding
Fertilise sparingly. If soil is deep and fertile, no feeding is needed; on poorer soils, complete plant food once in spring.

Problems
Fungus diseases, birds, aphids, mites and caterpillars.

KIWI FRUIT
Actinidia deliciosa, syn. A. chinensis

Kiwi fruit is a good climber for a pergola. You'll be able to pick kiwi fruit in late autumn and winter.

Size
Canes can grow to 10m.

Climate
Temperate zones are most suitable; possible in humid subtropical, cooler parts of Mediterranean and the warmer parts of cool temperate zones.

Frost tolerance
To -10C but fruit will be damaged; ideally no severe frosts and a mild to warm summer.

Flowering season
Middle to late spring.

Fruiting season
Late autumn and winter.

Chilling requirement
At least 500 hours below 10C.

Cross-pollination
Grow a male and a female plant, and brush pollen from male flowers directly onto all the female flowers.

Watering
Very generously while the vine has leaves, less in winter. Soil must drain freely.

Feeding
Feed with a high-nitrogen complete plant food in early spring and again during summer.

Problems
Caterpillars, thrips and fruit fly, grey mould.

PASSIONFRUIT
Passiflora edulis

This is a pretty and very productive vine. Passionfruit mature from late spring to early autumn.

Size
Rampant; can run to 15m.

Climate
Humid subtropical, coastal parts of Mediterranean and the warmest places in temperate zones.

Frost tolerance
Takes the odd -2C but prefers frost-free areas.

Flowering season
Early spring, but rain then can reduce the fruit set.

Fruiting season
Late spring to early autumn.

Cross-pollination
Not strictly needed but hand-pollinate the female flowers to get a good crop. Do this in the morning.

Watering
Keep soil moist from the time flowers appear, increasing water as summer nears. Decrease in autumn. Soil must drain freely.

Feeding
A very heavy feeder that needs extra rich soil. From spring to early autumn (late summer in cool places) apply a high-nitrogen fertiliser.

Problems
Bugs, scale, aphids and mites. Vines are short lived and need to be replaced every 4-5 years.

ROCKMELON
Cucumis melo

Pick your rockmelons in summer and early autumn.

Size
Varies with type; some are bushy but the traditional rockmelon grows on a groundcovering vine.

Climate
Grows best where there is a long, hot, not too rainy summer. Mediterranean, semi-arid and hot arid zones are ideal but rockmelons can be grown in humid subtropical, dry subtropical, temperate and even the warmer parts of cool temperate zones.

Frost tolerance
None. Rockmelons are annual, summer vines.

Flowering season
Spring.

Fruiting season
Summer and early autumn.

Cross-pollination
Not necessary; self-fertile.

Watering
Keep the soil moist, gradually giving more water as summer nears. When fruits are fully formed, reduce the watering.

Feeding
Grow in fertile, well-drained soil enriched with rotted manure and no extra feeding is necessary.

Problems
Mildew, which requires spraying.

Source: Gardening: A Commonsense Guide (Murdoch Books)