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INTEREST IN TABLE GRAPES AND WINEMAKING GROWING IN MINNESOTA
Whenever I've given my arbor- and trellis-building class this winter, I've been asked about growing grapes.
Most people are familiar with wild grapevines that grow in nearly every central Minnesota wooded area. Growing domesticated grapes, on the other hand, and producing respectable yields of good-tasting table or wine grapes, is a bit more of a mystery.
More than a century ago, it was widely believed that our climate was simply too harsh to grow apples. In the decades that followed, University of Minnesota researchers developed a bushel basketful of hardy apple cultivars that includes Haralson, Sweet Sixteen, and Honeycrisp.
Growing grapes in recent years has been viewed much as apples were in the 1800s -- not suitable in Minnesota. Now that may be changing, thanks to new research and promising new grape varieties.
Clearly, growing grapes in Minnesota is not for the faint of heart. To be successful, points out Doug Foulk, University of Minnesota fruit specialist, you must not only provide a warm, sunny site and a structure for the vines to inhabit, but also time and effort to learn grape cultural practices. In fact, says Foulk, gardeners who want luscious summer fruit with minimal effort may want to stick to blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.
"For those who prefer the challenge, however, the lure of grapes may prove irresistible," says Foulk. Here are Foulk's suggestions for growing grapes.
In Minnesota we grow two types of grapes, French Hybrid and American. Among French Hybrid varieties, St. Croix and Frontenac are the most hardy. While St. Croix is said to produce a passable red wine, Frontenac, the newest introduction from the University of Minnesota, was bred specifically for red wine production and is the hardiest red-wine variety in Minnesota. The grapes have a high sugar and acid content at harvest, making a red wine that echoes the flavors of cherries and plums.
American grapes are generally much better suited for fresh eating and juice than their French Hybrid relatives. Hardiest American grape cultivars for Minnesota include Beta, Bluebell, Worden, and Valiant. Bluebell is an early-maturing, disease-resistant, blue table grape with delightful flavor. It makes an excellent juice. Worden is a Concord-like cultivar with greater hardiness and a subdued flavor. All of these grapes have seeds.
The university publication "Growing Grapes for Home Use'" contains an extensive listing of grape cultivars suitable for growing in Minnesota and may be found online at: www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1103.html.
Grapes require full sun and serious warmth to grow and ripen properly. North-facing slopes or a spot near a tree that receives half-day sun simply won't do. Sandy soil is better than heavier soils since it warms up more quickly in spring. Also, grapes won't tolerate poorly drained soils.
Grapes are extremely sensitive to herbicides, especially the broadleaf herbicide 2,4-D. Even vapors rising from a neighbor's application on a warm, still day can cause harm to grapes.
Some of the terms used to describe training and pruning grape vines sound like a foreign language. Trunk, shoot and cane, for example, refer to different parts of the plant. In Minnesota, the training system used for grapes depends upon whether the vines require winter protection or may be left on the trellis over winter. While our hardiest grapes may be grown using an upright system called the "4-Arm Kniffen," more tender varieties require a "Mini-J" system that is easier to remove from the trellis in fall.
Grapevines require regular and heavy pruning. Each year, most of the previous year's rampant growth must be removed. You must also selectively prune toward two goals at once: the fruit you want in the coming year and the canes to produce next year's crop. Such pruning requires attention to detail, an understanding of how grapevines grow, and patience.
Grapevines can grow on a fence or most any sturdy structure. The ideal structure for grape varieties not requiring winter protection consists of a pair of strong wires, at 36 and 60 inches above ground level, supported by a series of sturdy posts. Grapevines are long-lived woody vines so an initial investment in a strong support structure will pay off in future years
Last summer, I toured the University's grape research project at the Horticultural Research Center on Highway 5. The facility now includes a just-completed winery, seven vineyards and 10,000 grapevines. The HRC's research discoveries will be welcomed by Minnesota's eight wineries as well as by our state's grape lovers.
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PUTTING DOWN ROOTS:
A Delightful Blend of
Gardening Wisdom, Wit
and Whimsy
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by Cliff Johnson |
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