Sensational Seedless Grapes

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After the danger of frost has passed, you can place the container outside, and then transplant your new grape plants by summer's end.

HARVESTING GRAPES

You can sample a few grapes the second season after planting, but the first full harvest comes in the third or fourth year. A well-tended vine can produce from 30 to 50 pounds of fruit each season.

How well a vine produces depends largely on the variety planted, the size and age of the vine, the pruning methods used, and the climate and conditions under which it was grown. Grapes ripen over a period of several weeks and will not ripen once they've been picked. In their last stages of ripening on the vine, their sugar content will rise to about 20 percent. Harvest grapes when their color has fully developed and they pass the taste test, of course!

Author Kris Wetherbee and her photographer husband, Rick, tend an 8,000-square-foot organic garden, along with sheep, cows, chickens and pigeons on their 40-acre homestead in the foothills of western Oregon.

Sources of rooted Grape vines

1. One Green World 28696 S. Cramer Road Molalla, OR 97038 (877) 353-4028 www.onegreenworld.com
2. Raintree Nursery 391 Butts Road Morton, WA 98356 (360) 496-6400 www.raintreenursery.com
3. Stark Brothers Nurseries 20947 Highway 54 Louisiana, MO 63353 (800) 478-2759 www.starkbros.com
4. Johnson Nursery, Inc. 1352 Big Creek Road Ellijay, GA 30540 (888) 276-3187 www.johnsonnursery.com

Unrooted Cuttings

Nick Botner
4015 Eagle Valley Road Yoncalla, OR 97499 (541) 849-2781 $3 per cutting (min. of three), plus $3.85 for priority mail shipping. Request a list of available varieties by sending a #10 SASE to the above address.

Growers Guide to Seedless Grapes

All varieties listed are easy to grow and disease-resistant. Numbers in parentheses indicate nursery sources on Page 64. Pictured above from left: `Himrod,' `Reliance,' 'Intertaken' and `Glenora' varieties.

'Canadice' — Tight clusters of medium-size, light-red fruit have a deliciously sweet flavor with just a hint of spice. Fruit ripens early. Very productive and hardy to minus 20 degrees. Also makes great juice, jelly and wine. (1, 2, 3)
'Glenora' — Huge clusters of sweet, medium-size, midnight-blue grapes with a delicious blend of blueberry and `Concord' flavors. Fruit ripens early to midseason, and keeps well on the vine. Makes great-tasting jam, jelly, juice and pies. Buds hardy to minus 10 degrees. (1, 2, 3)
'Himrod' — Clusters of medium-size grapes turn golden-amber when fully ripe. Excellent quality with a slightly spicy, crisp, sweet, honey-like flavor. Fruit ripens very early and will keep in the refrigerator until Christmas. Also great when made into wine, juice and jelly, or dried into raisins. Hardy to minus 15 degrees. (1, 4)
'Reliance' — Very productive with large clusters of medium-size, rosy-pink fruit on vigorous vines. Grapes have an enticingly sweet and fruity flavor with tender skins and melting flesh. Fruit ripens early to midseason and is equally outstanding when made into juice, jelly, wine or vinegar. We freeze some for baking into muffins during winter. Hardy to minus 30 degrees. (3, 4)
'Venus' — Huge clusters of medium- to large-size, blue grapes with a rich, fruity and earthy flavor. Fruit ripens early to midseason. Also tasty when made into juice, jelly or wine. Hardy to minus 20 degrees. (2, 4)

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