Northerly Vines

The recent sunshine has done wonders for two out of the three vines in our conservatory. 

Outdoor vines have never flourished in Scotland, not even in the warmer Roman times when there was some type of viniculture as far north in England as Preston. But indoors they can do well and we were inspired by several friends who managed to get good crops of grapes every year. 

A few years ago we wondered if our original one  would survive as it had succumbed several times to disease but now it is  producing an astonishing proliferation of fruit, which is swelling fast in the current warmth.   

The two younger ones  are not as well established but one of them is fruiting for  the second  time with a few bunches now getting visibly bigger every week and has much increased foliage compared to last year. 

The third  (they are all different varieties) may have flowered too early (it is the one nearest to the house wall , so in the warmest spot) and nothing has set.  But we will try again next year !