Growing Grapes in Wisconsin

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Growing Grapes in Wisconsin

• By
• Dr. Robert Tomesh
• UW-Extension Specialist

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Wisconsin Challenges with Growing Grapes

• Bud injury occurs between -10 and -25 degrees F.
• Select cultivars which mature within your growing
  season (frost free period).
• Success depends upon selected cultural management
  practices

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Bud Injury

• NY Bulletin Dont plant grapes in any area
  receiving temperatures below -10 degrees F.
• FYI Strawberry buds show flower damage at
  temperatures below 15 degrees F. (Mulch, straw,
  snow, etc.)

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Mulch Trials

• 1989 winter air temperature at 40 F at Spooner
  ARS.
• --Bluebelle yields from unprotected vines on
  trellis..2 per plant average
• --Bluebelle yields from protected (snow mulch)
  vines ..12 per plant average

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Heat Unit Accumulation Base 50
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Cultivar Choices - Hardiness

• Valiant
• Beta (Alpha)
• King of the North (Jungs Nursery)
• Suelter
• Bluebelle
• MN 78
• Eona

• Swenson Red
• Eidelweiss
• Other Swenson cvs.
• Worden
• Fredonia
• Concord

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Cultivar Choices - Maturity

• Valiant (late Aug.)
• Beta
• Swenson Red (early Sept.)
• MN 78
• Bluebelle (mid to late Sept.)
• Eidelweiss

• Eona
• Suelter (late Sept.)
• King of the North
• Worden
• Fredonia (early to mid Oct.)
• Concord

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Recent Introductions

• St Croix
• St. Pepin
• Lacrosse
• Kay Gray
• Espirit
• Frontenac (wine type)
• Prairie Star
• Louise Swenson

• Swenson White
• Skujinsh 675 (Latvia) ripens early and in cool
  seasons
• Zilga (Lativa)
• Kandiyohi
• Summer Sweet (early, late Aug.)

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Botany and Propagation
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Pre-flowering showing cluster, leaf, and leaf
shoot
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Flowering
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Flowers to Fruit
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Getting Started

• Site Selection full sun
• Sources of vines propagation
• Spacing 10 x 10
• Build the trellis before planting
• Plan training system

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Planting Vines

• Early spring is the best time to plant
  grapevines.
• Fall planting is not recommended because plants
  are likely to be lost to heaving.
• During the first year, the vines are normally
  tied to a stake to keep them off the ground.

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Training System4Cane Kniffin
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Training SystemSingle Curtain
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Training SystemOpen Fan
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Fan System(with mulch potential)
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Winter Mulch

• Snow
• Bury in Soil
• Use organic mulch (hay, straw, etcmice can be a
  problem.)
• Uncover and trellis before spring growth begins.

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Spur and Cane Training
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Cane Pruning Systems
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Pruning

• Annual pruning is important in maintaining a
  uniform yearly production of quality fruit.
• The best time to prune grapevines is in the
  dormant season after the danger of severe cold
  weather has past.
• When Lay-down management is used, prune mildly
  in fall and complete pruning at spring trellising.

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Fruiting Cane/Fruit
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Training SystemLazy J for Horizontal Lay-down
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Planting for Training System
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Seasonal Pruning(About 40 buds per plant)
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Summer Growth
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Summer Growth
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Before Spring Pruning
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Save canes from last seasons growthcontains
fruiting buds
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Planning for Summer Growth
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Spring Pruned
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Training a New Trunk(Used to replace old/damaged)
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Fertilizing

• Grapes perform best where the soil pH is between
  5.0 and 6.0.
• Apply 8 ounces of 10-10-10 fertilizer per plant
  seven days after planting .
• Annually apply 11/2 pounds (10-10-10) per vine in
  the third and later years about 30 days before
  new growth begins in the spring.

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Fertilizer Application

• Do not concentrate fertilizer at the base of
  the trunk. Keep fertilizer 6 to 12 inches from
  the trunk and spread evenly under the spread of
  the vine.

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Weed Management/Mulch

• For best vine performance, avoid using thick
  organic mulchesheat needed for growth.
• Use tillage, herbicides or black plastic mulch to
  control weeds.

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Diseases

• Common grape diseases are black rot, downy
  mildew, powdery mildew, phomopsis cane and leaf
  spot, and botrytis bunch rot or gray rot.
• Proper spacing for air circulation.
• Consider a disease pesticide program.
• Use organic Bordeaux and horticultural oils.

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Insects

• Major insects and mites on grapes are grape berry
  moth, Japanese beetle, grape flea beetle,
  European red mite, grape root borer, and grape
  phylloxera.

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Herbicide Injury
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Grape Phyloxera
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Summary of Cultural Practices

• Select cultivars to match your climate
• Train vines for winter and summer
• Weed control, black plastic
• Fertilize before spring growth begins
• Prune annually
• Winter care hardy cultivars, otherwise lay-down
  and rely on snow mulch or bury.

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The End