Vineyard Update after 7 growing seasons:
But first, funny thing this internet, here I am researching some cold hardy vines to add/replace in my vineyard and what do I find but my own post from 6 years ago about the same thing! I first started reading thinking, geez, someone else close to me is growing grapes too....
I think I owe this forum an update on that.
As posted above, in spring 2013 I planted 3 vines of each of the following just outside of Orillia, Ontario, Canada:
Somerset (from hardyfriuttrees.ca)
Marquette (from Volcala)
St. Pipin (from Volcala)
St. Croix (from Volcala)
Kay Grey (from Volcala)
Valiant (from previous house but originally from Veseys)
Earliblue (from Green Barn Nurseries)
Magenta (from Green Barn Nurseries)
Pink Pearl (from Green Barn Nurseries)
Polar Green (from Green Barn Nurseries)
Reliance (from Green Barn Nurseries)
Here's a summary of how they have preformed and my very amateur thoughts on them, keep in mind, they are only 7 year old vines and have been producing for 3-4 years (at best):
Somerset
Somewhat finicky producer, usually get something from these but they aren't great yields and somewhat sporadic. Fairly low vigor and some frost/cold issues. They always come back but sometimes from a new shoot. My kid loves them, they are partially seedless and do taste great. Small fruits.
Marquette
Reliable producer but moderate yields of small to medium fruits. They have been the second most prone to any insects or disease thus far but haven't had too many issues. Moderate vigor and yield. Taste is ok but I have mainly been eating them fresh. If I juice, they get mixed due to limited quantities. Cold hardiness and frost has not been an issue.
St. Pipin
Reliable producer, high vigor, good yields of medium fruit. Very minor cold issues once on one vine, otherwise have been very good with no other disease or insect issues. Taste - good but wasn't my favourite but they have really grown on me this year and they are in the top two for fresh eating flavour.
St. Croix
My favourite from the beginning, great fresh eating taste. Not everyone here agrees but they are my favourite. Reliable producer, high vigour, good yields of medium + fruit. No cold, insect or disease issues thus far.
Kay Grey
Reliable producer, high vigour, good yields of medium + fruit. No cold, insect or disease issues thus far. My wife's favourite for fresh eating. In the top 3 or 4 for me.
Valiant
Medium vigour, good yields of small to medium fruit. Often insect damage in most years when other varieties are fine. Lose leaves very early in the fall when everything else still has foliage. Ok taste but I intend to replace them with something else.
Earli Blue
Medium vigour, medium yield but somewhat variable. Has had some winter die back but mostly cold hardy. Taste is good, similar to the valiant but better taste.
Magenta, Pink Pearl, Polar Green, Reliance
All a bust. In fact ordering from Greenbarn Nurseries was a horrible ordeal. Also bought numerous other fruit trees from them. Stock was very poor, some wasn't sent and never got a refund on many missing items. Despite all of that, I was able to get the vines growing. 80% of vines die back to roots annually. I've tried for 7 years and still have a few hanging on but at best, I've seen a few bunches of the polar green this year. Rest have never produced and they are being replaced very soon. Hence my new grape vine research!
2019:
I harvested about 180lbs of grapes total this year off of 3 vines of each (21 total vines) of the following: Somerset,
Marquette,
Valiant, St. Pipin, St. Croix, Kay Grey, Earli-Blue.
Bolded were medium producers,
underlined were heaviest producers.
160 lbs of grapes (20 lbs Valiant were harvested later)
Moving forward, I am considering adding Vidal, Riesling, Geisenheim and maybe a few others (looking into hardiness of Gewertz) as a trial. Not sure if I'm pushing the limits with some of these. If so, I'll be infilling with St. Pipin and St. Croix in the future. I'll attempt to update again in a few years...
