Grapes (not tomatoes)

[fortyonenorth]

I'd like to plant some table grapes this year and curious about varieties and vendors. The kids like the pink-red ones, seedless of course. Any input from other home gardeners would be appreciated.

[Redbaron]

You might consider Muscadine Grapes.

Here is a seedless variety

http://store.isons.com/plants/red-va...s/fry-seedless

But to grow Muscadines right you should have a few varieties for cross pollination.

[kath]

Originally Posted by Redbaron

You might consider Muscadine Grapes.

I didn't think Muscadines were hardy as far north as we are.

kath

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by kath

I didn't think Muscadines were hardy as far north as we are.

kath

Most Muscadines are hardy from zone 7 and higher, but a few are hardy to zone 6

I have eaten Muscadines grown in Central Indiana. So I know there are some varieties hardy there, although that may be the limit, not sure?

[Worth1]

I would go with a grape that is recommended for your area.
Try your local extension agent or university ag dept.

Worth

[clkeiper]

We grow concords and seedless. I like the canadice and the green seedless (no clue what it is, my FIL planted them) but if you haven't eaten homegrown ones be aware that they have somewhat tough skins I usually eat the innards and spit the skins.Not real ladylike, but they are tough. Nothing like a green or red seedless from Chile/S. America.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by clkeiper

We grow concords and seedless. I like the canadice and the green seedless (no clue what it is, my FIL planted them) but if you haven't eaten homegrown ones be aware that they have somewhat tough skins I usually eat the innards and spit the skins.Not real ladylike, but they are tough. Nothing like a green or red seedless from Chile/S. America.

There are table grapes and juice grapes.
For eating you want table grapes.
It has nothing to do with (Home Grown)
Worth

[fortyonenorth]

Thanks for the replies. The Ison's website is wonderful but, sadly, I may be on the fringe of hardiness for Muscadines here in NW Indiana. We're close enough to the lake (Michigan) that we enjoy a relatively balmy microclimate--even compared to a few miles inland--but, we still see the occasional "cold"winter, though not as often as in decades past.

Worth - good advice on the extension. I should take better advantage of their services. Our area tends to be an island of sand amid the rich surrounding land, so "advice" is often skewed towards the needs of the more traditional growing conditions and climate. Our area is considered "unsuitable for agriculture."

I was looking at Stark Bros.--they've been around forever, but I've never ordered from them. Any experience? I'm looking at Flame and Reliance, along with maybe Somerset. Cornell has a good information site that objectively describes most of the "modern" seedless varieties.

I have deer in the area, and while they've never caused problems with tomatoes, peppers and the like, I worry that grapes will be too much to resist. Am I right in this assumption?

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by fortyonenorth

Thanks for the replies. The Ison's website is wonderful but, sadly, I may be on the fringe of hardiness for Muscadines here in NW Indiana. We're close enough to the lake (Michigan) that we enjoy a relatively balmy microclimate--even compared to a few miles inland--but, we still see the occasional "cold"winter, though not as often as in decades past.

Muscadine PDF file from NC Coop Ext Serv

They list a few hardy varieties. I guess it depends exactly how cold it gets where you are located.

You know your micro climate better than anyone. How cold does it get there?

[clkeiper]

Originally Posted by Worth1

There are table grapes and juice grapes.
For eating you want table grapes.
It has nothing to do with (Home Grown)
Worth

Ours are table grapes, but the skin is much thicker than the commercial varieties. They are the canadice and maybe reliance (I think) we don't use them for wine or juice, just fresh eating. Concords are a juice grape and the skin is very similar in texture/toughness to the canadice grapes. But this our experience growing grapes, maybe others have a different result than us for the same grape variety. I do know that they are in no way similar to the grapes you buy at the store that are imported from Mexico and Chile. You can chew the skins and swallow them, the grapes we grow don't "chew" up real well. It is kind of like chewing on leather.

[Tormato]

Somerset is the most cold hardy, from what I've read. However, it likely isn't entirely "seedless". Often, it reportedly has a slightly crunchy empty ovule.

Swenson Red is by far my favorite. Not seedless, but it is the only
non-slipskin table grape I can find.

Tormato

[Dutch]

41n,
I grow Concord and King of the North here in southeastern Wisconsin. Both are seeded and relatively late to ripen. The King of the North (they are almost black) are quite sweet after the first light frost and can be eaten as table grapes. If I were looking for a red table grape, I would grow Reliance.
Minnesota Grape Growers Association is a great place to find information on northern varieties of grapes. http://mngrapegrowers.com/varieties
Dutch

[bwaynef]

I've got seeds from some of the Muscadines and Scuppernongs we had this summer. I wonder how long it'll take for me to get my own grapes. (I've read 4 years.)

[Tormato]

Originally Posted by bwaynef

I've got seeds from some of the Muscadines and Scuppernongs we had this summer. I wonder how long it'll take for me to get my own grapes. (I've read 4 years.)

Will you have them for 90-120 days in the fridge?

[bwaynef]

They're in the freezer now (after having sat on top of the fridge for a few months). I was hoping not to wait that long, but don't see any reason I won't be able to.