Monday, May 24, 2010

"Gray Street Grape" update

Bunch grapes are considered very difficult in Florida, though a few very complex hybrids have been bred that thrive here. My Mystery Grape "Gray Street Grape" made its first grape last year, a light red one.....I'd expected purple, thinking it was a native species grape due to its EXTREME vigor as it quickly consumed the henhouse and then the quail pen. Maybe due to it being 4 years old, or because I told it I'd dig it up if it did not set fruit this year, or because of the chilly wet El Nino winter we had, it is very heavily laden with grapes rapidly increasing in size. A customer and student yesterday suggested 'Red Flame' as he says it grows and bears very well here despite being a Bunch grape (vs. muscadine). But that grape is seedless...."Gray Street Grape" has seeds (good! now I can grow my own resveratrol!)

So I Googled about red bunch grapes that like Florida and I found just one likely candidate...'Daytona'. I'm guessing these thousands of green grapes will show color by July...once they do I will post pics plus a video or two.

In the meantime, my years old 'Triumph' muscadine grape on my south fence has just begun to bloom.....it looks to be a very "grapey" year indeed! John

5 comments:

  1. john, i have flame red grapes, they started well this year but seem to be suffering with the heat, here is a photo of a better year
    LT
    http://www.getawaymoments.com/2010/03/spring-has-sprung.html

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  2. Bummer...that link is not active. What do you feed that grape? John

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  3. sorry john, you have to copy and paste the http address .... it works
    i don't feed them anything special just milorganite .... any advice?
    LT

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  4. Milorganite is a very incomplete fertilizer. I'd sprinkle a handful or two of dolomitic limestone (Sunniland brand at Home Depot is 50 lbs. for $4.29), a handful of Epsom salts around the root zone, then feed monthly during the growing season with Alaska Fish Emulsion, 3 tblspns. per gallon of water. Fish emulsion is a truly complete soil and plant food with ALL plant nutrients, good for all plants. Quart jar is $8 at my Home Depot. To me, Milorganite is SO incomplete as to not be worth buying.

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  5. thanks John, i use milorganite on the grass and therefore the grape vines as well. I took your advice, lime and epsom salts have been applied ..... my home despot has not carried fish emulsion lately so i guess i will have to visit the tampa store .... great advice as usual
    keep up the good work
    LT

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