Tom, forget about fruit now and focus on training. Prune back to just a few buds and let only two shoots grow, one being a backup. Once you have one shoot tied up so it won't break off you can rub off the backup shoot. The one shoot will hit 6' this year. If you leave a lot of low stuff your one main shoot may not hit 6' and you get to start all over next year.

Scott

I couldn't get your photo up but agree with Scott 100%. Assume this vine has well established roots in a pot. That is a lot different than in the soil. If you go for fruit this yr you might a few nice size bunches or a lot of little worthless bunches. And it will cost you much more than that down the road. Do what Scott suggested on training this yr.

The Fruitnut

There is a book I found called "The Grape Grower: A guide to organic viticulture". It has pictures that show exactly what the vine is supposed to look like every year and why you train it that way. The reason I mention the book is that it says the same thing that Scott said about needing the main vine to reach a certain height the first year or you have to start over the second year. I bought the book this spring because I'm starting to grow grapes this year and the very detailed pictures and explanations look like they will be a big help.

All I can say is I let my concord vine fruit whenever it wanted, grow however it wanted, and it has both taken over my shed and blessed me with more grapes than I can use, all in short order. I planted 1-foot plants and got a large yield my second year (don't remember if I got anything the first year). It's been in the ground about four years now and yields about 4-5 gallons of grapes per year. And the thing has a trunk the size of a small tree. The only downside is it's been shading out my strawberries ;)

Thanks to all of you. I'll go for the training this year, as suggested. I've got tons of buds already, so I'm off to an early start.

Grape newbie here; Based on what I'm reading it appears there is no benefit in buying a 3yr old grapvine as opposed to a 1 or 2yr old one as no matter what it is unlikely to bear much fruit. Am I understanding correctly? Is this because when you buy them much of the old wood has been cut off so no 1 yr old wood to produce fruit? What does a 3 yr old grapevine look like when you buy it? Are they pretty much grown in pots so have a shallow root system and is that why you can't expect fruit the 1st yr you plant a 3yr old grapevine?