Growing table grapes in colder climates
What is a table grape? • Very simply a table grape is a grape that we like to eat , just like that!
• Some considera>ons when choosing a table grape • Flavour • Color • Size • Texture • Seedless • Customers don’t object to seeds when the grapes are larger. Small grapes with lots of seeds are not acceptable
Why do we try growing table grapes?
• Some success with wine grapes in our general area
• New product for our farm • Time to try something different and a bit exo>c
• Market exists for this product • Someone told me it couldn’t be done..
Steps I took to establish my small vineyard
• Get informed-‐ research • Training • Visits area vineyards • Ask ques>ons • Go for it.. Jump right in!
Site considera>ons
• All grapes do best in well drained soils. If the water table is above 60cm, you will have problems
• Best on a southern facing slope but not essen>al
• Wind direc>on-‐ know where your predominant winds are in spring and summer
Soil prepara>on
• Soil sample to determine what you have in nutrients
• Prepare for soil amendments if necessary • Aim for a pH of at least 5.6 best over 6.0 • Do not over fer>lize. Check nitrogen levels, too much and you will have too much vine and no fruits.
• 5t/ha compost before plan>ng and every 5 years is recommended.
Recommended varie>es • Sommerset-‐ very early seedless red.. highly recommended • Reliance-‐ mid season seedless red-‐ notes of grapefruit flavor is excellent • Pe/t Joyaux -‐very early small seedless red-‐nice uniform color • Roland-‐ very early seeded green-‐ excep>onal flavor • Himrod-‐ mid season seedless green-‐ doesn’t keep long aZer harvest but good flavor-‐
sensi>ve to cold • Bal/ca-‐ very early seeded blue-‐ labrusca flavor • Canadice-‐ mid season seedless red-‐ very sweet • Montreal Blue-‐ late seedless blue-‐ acidic • Bluebell mid season seeded blue-‐ labrusca flavors( like Valiant-‐ Concord) • Brianna-‐ mid season green-‐ lots of seeds-‐ pineapple flavor • Tango-‐ mid season green-‐seeded, tangerine -‐ honey flavor • Kandioyi late season large blue seeded-‐ large fruit but not overly flavorful • Sovereign corona>on-‐ mid season seedless blue-‐ good flavor but does not produce a
large crop • Swenson red-‐ mid season red , seeded, keeps long aZer harvest • Troll-‐ very early seeded blue-‐ small bunches • New York Muscat-‐ mid to late season, bleu-‐ excep>onal flavor • Eidelweiss-‐ mid season-‐ green-‐ labrusca flavor
Establishing plan>ng Get plants or cu`ngs from disease
free stock. We purchased from Claude Gelineau St. Gerome (Quebec) 500+ dormant cu`ngs in late 2012. Store cu`ngs at 1C wrapped in damp newspapers or wood shavings, in a plas>c bag.
• Early spring • Soak cu`ngs in a couple of inches of water overnight to ensure that they are well hydrated.
• Sani>ze by dipping for 30 seconds in a solu>on of 5% hydrogen peroxide.
• Pot • Place in greenhouse and keep well watered • Between 40%-‐90% of cu`ngs rooted depending on the variety.
Field plan>ng
• Harden off cu`ngs • Prepare field • Plant • Add soil amendments if not done already • Install drip irriga>on • Stake plants • Install trellis systems • Keep weed free 1m around each plant
Year 2
• Con>nue to irrigate if necessary • Con>nue to maintain a weed free strip around the vines
• Prune to select one main shoot • Train to cordon or arm • Establish permanent grass in between rows if you haven’t in the first year.
• Remove suckers – some varie>es seem to sucker more than others.
Year 3 and beyond • Prune cordon
• Guide the new growth between the two wires so that you can have some support
• Verify weekly for bugs or disease or any other problem that may manifest itself-‐remove suckers
• Remove excess frui>ng clusters at bloom • Remove leaves in August to help fruit mature • Protect from birds • Eat grapes