Growing Hybrid Grapes
Jim Bruce
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Growing Hybrid Grapes
Jim Bruce
Growing hybrid grapes is becoming more popular for wine and
eating. This popularity comes from the fact that hybrid grapes
can be grown in areas where the traditional European grapes
cannot survive. It also comes about because more and more people
are growing grapes in their backyard to produce their own
vintage wine.
What are hybrid grapes? To answer this question, we must look
back in history about 100 years to when the European vineyards
were being decimated by the phylloxera louse that had been
brought from North America. The European grape species, Vitis
vinifera, is extremely susceptible to this louse. Vineyard after
vineyard was succumbing to this imported pest as well as to
grape diseases that had also come from America.
But Native American species of grapes had evolved with the pest
and were resistant to its attacks on the vine's roots. In an
effort to save the wine industry in France, some individuals
began to cross breed the European and American species to obtain
new varieties that had the wine characteristics of the European
grapes and the resistance to the phylloxera louse and other
diseases that the American grape species possessed.
It is from these breeding programs that the original hybrid
grapes were grown. At first, the grape varieties produced were
no better than their American parents. But as time has gone on,
more complex hybrids have been made and the quality of the
grapes has increased. Today, wines made from some hybrid grape
varieties even rival the wines made in California and other
traditional wine producing areas.
The way you grow hybrid grapes depends upon the varieties you
choose. Some varieties' growth habit resemble their American
parents while others grow like their European parents. And then
there are those that are in-between in their growth habit. The
growth habit of the variety will dictate what type of trellising
system you will use to grow them. It also will dictate how the
vines are pruned.
European varieties and hybrids that take after them tend to grow
upright. These varieties will need a vertical shoot positioning
trellis system that allows you to tie up the shoots as they grow
upward. American varieties and hybrids that resemble them have a
growth habit that droops. These vines are usually trained to a
high wire about six feet off the ground and the shoots are
allowed to grow downward over the growing season.
You can find a hybrid variety that will grow in almost anywhere
in the United States. Alaska is about the only state you won't
find one adapted to. The right hybrid grape variety for your
location is dependent upon the percentage of native species
found in the cross. Varieties adapted to northern locations tend
to have a high percentage of the native Vitis riparia that lives
in areas where the winters can go as low as -35F. Southern
varieties generally have Vitis aestivalis in their background if
from the southeast or other native species if found in areas
like Texas.
Grape hybrids often are known by only the breeder's number. They
may be called S.V 5-276 or S. 7053. Only the best of hybrids
have a true name, such as Foch or Seyval. These named varieties
have shown their worth over many years and are usually being
used to make wines commercially where a name is important on the
label.
Growing hybrid grapes may mean having to deviate from the
traditional grape growing methods. Some grape hybrids produce
way too much fruit because of hybrid vigor. You will have to
remove some of the fruit early in the growing season to prevent
them from over-bearing and succumbing to premature death. Each
variety will behave slightly different. You will have to get to
know the grape varieties you grow and adjust accordingly.
The big question is which varieties to grow? The answer to this
depends on where you live. You must buy varieties that are
adapted to your region. Some hybrid grape varieties mature their
fruit in 135-140 days while others need 170 days or more to get
ripe. The goal is to have ripe fruit so be sure that you're not
growing a long season variety in a short season.
Hybrid grapes also vary in how winter hardy they are. Make sure
that you get a very hardy variety if you live where the winters
are cold. Or a southern adapted variety if you live where
there's hot humid summers and long growing seasons. Winter
hardiness is not the concern under those conditions.
What you are going to use the fruit for is also a concern when
picking the right variety. Most hybrids have been developed to
make wine. But there are varieties for eating too. Most of the
grape varieties that you buy locally at a greenhouse or nursery
are eating varieties. You will need to go online to find wine
varieties for sale.
If you're passion is to grow grape vines in your backyard either
for wine or eating, I suggest that you look into hybrid grapes.
These have been bred to get the best of the tastes of the
European grapes combined with the resistances and winter
hardiness of the native grape species. Whatever your growing
conditions are, you'll find a hybrid grape variety that is
adapted to your area and needs.
About the author:
Jim Bruce has been growing grapes since 1974. He is currently
conducting grape research at his Rist Canyon Vineyards. Jim has
just written a Tips for Growing Grapes eBook that can be found
at: http://www.grapegrowingbook.com
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