Grape Boskoop Glory

An old, black grape cultivar from the famous Dutch nursery town of Boskoop, Vitis vinifera Boskoop Glory is extremely reliable in a cold greenhouse or polytunnel, and can also be grown outdoors on a warm south- or southwest-facing wall. A vigorous, fast-growing, deciduous vine, it has particularly beautiful foliage which colours coral, scarlet and purple in autumn. Inconspicuous greenish flowers in summer are followed by blue-black, almost seedless, sweet, aromatic, juicy grapes with a good flavour, better than shop-bought grapes. The grapes can be used for wine-making or eaten as dessert grapes. Requires extensive pruning and training, best done as soon as the leaves have fallen and again in midsummer. Grape Boskoop Glory is a very good dual-purpose grape which holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Very well-drained, neutral to alkaline soils, sandy, chalky or loamy
Position: Full sun
Pick: Early mid-season (early October)
Keep: Grapes do not keep
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Pollination: Self-fertile
Uses: Wine-making and eating