The ones you are growing will ferment & produce a wine. Depending on initial brix content that would dictate how much sugar you might want to add to get a better fermentation. Try it, see how it goes. Worst case it won't be amazing, but you'll still drink it because you made it.
So true! I might try it this year. Right now, I also have a friend who is using the grapes to make Kombucha so that's fun as well. It tastes delicious!
Over here in Finland at 62 degrees North in the East my friend grew hardy grapes and successfully made a very amazing wine from them. We make wine from Aronia and red currants here. So I am going to give the hardy grapes a go if the ones I bought recently give me enough for a small fermenting vat.
Thanks. I might try grow some grapes in my garden next year. S-s-e, Ireland. Full sun patio. Factory made pectin is just the worst tasting stuff. I use some lemon juice as a preservative and for marmalade I use the skin of washed organic oranges in place of pectin. One orange and equal weight sugar. Cut up the orange and then use a bullet-shaped drinks blender to blend up the orange skin and all. Add some water to help with blending and pouring. Another small tip for those making marmalade is to use Demerara sugar which suits much better and compliments the marmalade with a caramel-like flavour, warming up the taste. Not a crazy amount of lemon, just a squeeze. 15 minutes. Pour. Cool. Refrigerate.
We live in Casper, WY and grow Reliance, Valiant, and Concord. I love the Reliance, but they produce the least and have some bad years. We have plenty of room, so it is worth keeping them for how wonderful they are when we get a good crop. The BIGGEST trouble is that the birds also prefer them and go for those first. We need to harvest as soon as they are ready or they will be gone in a day or two. Birds seem to like grapes, cherries, and berries, a few days before I would call them "ready" to pick.
Yes, the birds! One year, we had a flock of wild turkeys who were eating ours! Always a little frustrating, though, honestly, sometimes it's good if they take some, especially when they are super abundant!
Ive also had a similar experience with sunset grapes, im in zone 3b in canada though. Comes back every year. Going on 6 or 7 years now but i only get 2, 3-4 bunches of grapes 🍇. They are quite good eating mind you for being zone 3 hardy, not as tart or astringent as other but not as good as store bought. Have you tries borage to bring in pollinators, mostly bees? Its essentially a perennial lol vigorous self seeding and all.
I am finally getting more bunches on my Somerset vines but it has taken a few years. I'll be curious how they do in the coming years. I do have a bunch of borage as well and agree that it is definitely vigorous and often takes over parts of my garden!!
Good tips. I to am in Zone 4 Greybull Wyoming. I'm working on Beef Tomato's, Strawberries, And Ruby Roman Grapes. All indoor under Light in green house. Thanks for Sharing.
I'm surprised to hear that you aren't able to grow grapes for wine. Frontenac and Sabrevois are varieties that many near me in 4b and farther north are growing for wine. I believe they are hybrids developed in Minnesota. Valiant isn't my first choice to try here because my hillside, while south facing, tends toward dampness so varieties with more mildew resistance get priority.
Hi Jill! Thanks for sharing. Where are you located? We get so little rain during July and August that I think Valiant grapes aren't susceptible to mildew here. And with our drier summers, it makes it even less of an issue. At least, I've never seen it. That's good to know though. What varieties do you grow? Interesting about the wine grapes, I'll look into it. Perhaps it's a bit of a myth that we can't grow them here and it's just been perpetuated through the growing networks!
I am in northern Vermont. We can lack precipitation in July and August too, but my property is on a damp slope from water uphill. I suspect there are springs here and there in the woods. So far I have just been growing wild grapes as it's only a recent solar install that's had us cut down enough trees for more light. I know that if the local nursery Elmore Roots grows it, than I can too.
@@BrokenGround Lots of people in South Saskatchewan in Zone 3 b grow them. They might hedge toward Zone 4, but that's doubtful, even south. We are Zone 1b up here in north SK, and we don't even try although I did have a couple of Frontenac a few years ago, which ultimately froze.
Great info. I’ll have to ask my sister and her fathers side of the family (different dads) about their wine grapes. Most of them are from Italy and immigrated to Canada decades ago. Her late father lived in Saskatoon Saskatchewan (grow zone 3) and he definitely had trellises of grapes growing along side his house and as an Italian of course he made his own wine. Late in life, he probably was too sick to do anything with those grapes, but he must have been using those for wine when he was younger.
Since making this video, I have had other people suggest cold climate wine grapes such as Frontenac so I guess they exist! Of course, we can make wine out of any fruit so I suppose any type of grape could be used, it just might not be the best wine 🙂
im in Bitterrot Valley, zone 5b and several small vineyards are making wine from local grapes: la crescent, itasca, marquette, frontenac. i got all from Northeastern Vine Supply. see also Montana Grape and Wine Association... so local wines are possible if done right. cheers.
Great to hear! I think our slightly colder growing zone (4b) makes some fruit like peaches and often apricots, in addition to some grape varieties, just out of reach. But I'm sure you're right, that if you find the right variety, it's possible! Thanks for letting me know!
Cool video . Just found your channel cant wait to see more, i orderd my first grapes from the local nursery for spring. Just subscribed much love from Canadian proud get outdoors
OH! And do you have a video about (or can you be more specific on) your way of making jam without sugar? I don't eat sugar or sweeteners in any form except pure fruit, so I was excited to hear about this.
I don't have a video but with the grapes, I bring them to a boil then simmer them for quite awhile. Then I strain them through a cheesecloth to get the seeds out and put the liquid back in the pot. I then simmer that liquid until it's reduced by at least half. It takes several hours but makes your house smell delicious ;-). I test it occasionally by taking a little bit out and putting it on a plate to see how thick it is. Since it doesn't have additional sugar, it's basically like freezer jam so I do freeze it in jars. But it's so yummy and like you, I hate how much sugar you have to add to regular jam that it sort of defeats the purpose of using homegrown fruit, in my opinion. Good luck and let me know how it goes!
I'm growing two wine grapes in zone 4 that are allegedly hardy down to -35F. White variety Prairie Star and red variety Marquette. So there is hope for wine grapes in colder zones...
That's great! Yes, since I've made this video, it seems like I've heard of more wine making cold climate varieties of grapes. Which is good news for all of us! Thanks for sharing!
I have one grapevine in my garden in Oslo, Norway. I think I have Zilga, I got it some ten years ago. I get lots of småll blue grapes with kernels and thick skin. I ´m looking for ideas and maybe want to plant a second vine next to the one I´ve got. Then I found your blog, and you said in the video that you wanted feedback. Nurseries here sell a lot of varieties from the baltic region. I made grape jelly with part of my crop, but think I maybe want to try making juice with the rest. Though the grapes tastes sweet, the juice was quite sour, so needed to add some sugar to the juice. My vine have proved to be perfectly hardy, and it is completely hazzle-free, I don´t prune it or feed it or cover it. I think it is also quite decorative, and people tend to be very impressed that I grow grapes at all here, as Norway is not one of the big wine-producing countries. So overall my grapevine has proven to a good garden plant. You may have harsher climate there than I have?
Hi Inger, thanks so much for your insights. Yes, I believe we have a slightly harsher climate than you do. We are in USDA hardiness zone 4b which means that are average annual extreme minimum winter temperatures gets down to between -31 and -28 degrees C. We are also at elevation which also makes it a little trickier. I love that you have a maintenance free vine. I sort of treat mine that way as well :-). Though I think it desperately needs a little bit of pruning!
Great, thanks for the tip Beth! I suspect that might not grow great in this climate, even though it's zone 4, because we have limited rainfall. I'll do more research!
I’m so excited I found you!! I’m in zone 4 in Wyoming so same climate as you. I don’t know anyone in my area that has been successful in growing any edible perennials accept mint and berries. No vines or trees though. I was turned onto permaculture 2 years ago and have been working on turning our backyard into a food forest. I’m looking forward this summer to put some more things in my yard and doing some of the things you suggest! I think I have a good spot to put some grapes! Thanks for the videos!!
Hi Kristin! I'm glad you found me as well. There are so many options for perennials in zone 4, I'm glad you'll serve as an example in Wyoming! I try to encourage my clients to put in as many perennials as possible if they have the space, they are so much less work than my annual garden. Have a great growing season!
I have only done a small amount of research on grapes and have found that Prairie Star grapes will grow in a zone 3 and are great for eating and making wine. As I said, I could be wrong but I've read this several places and I think I will try these next year. Let me know what you think because you have more experience in this than I do so I would greatly appreciate and reverberation or advice you can give me on this especially the Prairie Star grapes.
I have three Beta pots sitting dormant in my cold porch, waiting to be planted out in spring! I also have some Blue Ice and Severnji vines; do you have any experience or recommendations with those? We have a hops vine that grows massively over a shed every year, close to where I've planned for these grapes next to another dark green south-facing shed. Fingers crossed! We're more like 3a up here in northeastern Alberta--but you never know!
I don't have experience with Blue Ice or Severnji vines but if they are rated for that zone, I'd say go for it! And with that area right against your shed, I'm sure it's a little bit of a microclimate. The only thing that I would say is that hops tends to take over everything so I wonder if it might outcompete the vines, over time. Where are you in Northeastern Alberta? I grew up in Edmonton!
I believe you could try to make some “ice wine” with some of your grapes. Let some grapes stay on the vine until winter, then pick them. We grow a lot of grapes here in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. The wine is delicious. The varieties of grape used in this process is eluding me, but considering you have cold varieties, it’s worth checking into. Have a great day!
That's a great idea. I might try that out this year. I have since learned that the Frontenac variety grows in our climate and is used to make wine as well. So I might have to plant some of those too! Thanks for watching!
I have 2 young plants, 6 months old or so in decent size pots outside. Should I put them in my small greenhouse outside during the winter or bring them into the house?
I'd bring them into the house. If they are small and in pots, then it's unlikely that they will be insulated enough to survive outside. But, depending on just how big they are, you could put them together and insulate them with wood chip or straw. Together with the snow, you may be able to insulate the roots enough so they don't die.
Boil down the grapes and then put the liquid through a sieve to get rid of the seeds. Then take that liquid and boil it down at least by half to thicken it. That's it! No additives. Then freeze it!
When would you plant vines? I picked up an Elvira and Beta variety last weekend. I don’t know if I should pot them temporarily or not. One has started it’s leaves, the other is very dormant. We’re zone 4b.
Where did you get your harvest basket from? I've been looking without success for a two handled wire harvest basket like the one you show in this video. Thank you in advance for your response. And thank you for your videos they are so informative and helpful.
Hi Christine! My husband got it for me as a gift. He thinks he got it at Planet Natural, which was a local garden center here that has since closed. But they do have an online shop. Good luck and let me know if you find one! Thanks for watching my videos. I look forward to connecting with you through the PDC!
What kind of gardening basket is that? I have the one that looks the same except the handle does not flatten. Can you tell me where I might find the basket like yours?
Unfortunately, my husband gave it to me as a gift and he can't remember where he got it from! It's super handy and I wish he remembered. You're not the first person to ask!
Watching your video, thank you for the information... just wondering if you’ve ever seen or grown “ Prairie star grape”? I’m just curious if it grows strong like valiant grape vine. I am growing in zone 2/3 Saskatchewan Canada
Thanks for watching! I don't have any experience with Prairie Star, unfortunately. I'm sure if it's rated for a zone 2/3 growing climate, it should do fairly well. Good luck!
@@andersquist8436: so far so good! It’s little tho so I might be waiting a long time for grapes lol. Good luck! Looks like it might be a good year for grapes to establish 👍🏻happy growing
Your grapes are beautiful but if you want to them grow even better thin down the canopy when you prune more sunlight is better over crowding isn’t good either if have plants close by it will effect the growth process I live higher elevation here in northern California we get snow every year and have short seasons it can be tuff I grow my grapes like you would at vineyard in full sun and I get so many grapes now 🍇 check out some videos on vineyard grows I think you will see a big difference in your quantity and quality of grapes especially if your tight on space the two types of pruning makes a big difference to get the most out of your grapes I like how your grapes grow on your fence you don’t have to build anything to hold them up thats great well happy 🌱 planting and prosperous growth
Do you have any advice on pruning and training young grapevines? I have two plants that I put in last spring and one put up a shoot that almost reached the top of the fence. This spring it has numerous buds all along the stem that are leafing out. I’ve watched videos about limiting the side shoots to tow “levels” - one maybe two feet up and the other one at the top. Is that necessary or can I just let them do their thing? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Judy! I let my grapevines do their thing for the first few years and they turned out fine. However, I think if you prune them early on, you get thicker main vines, which is always good in terms of the robustness of the plant. Sometimes the pruning is about maximizing yield as well, since people are often doing it commercially. I partly neglected my vines the first few years because I had so many other things to do on the homestead but if I had to do it over again, I might be a little more intentional.
I am growing (near Broadus) a few of Niels Hansen's grapes from crosses made probably 100 years ago (other examples are Osbu, Mandan, Shakoka, etc.) I do not know what the variety names are. My favorite is a blue grape, kind of looks like Valiant, and is good for juice and jelly. I let it sprawl along the ground and do not prune it. The other grapes I have of Niel's are shy bearers, but in some years taste almost like a Concord. I have several hundred very young seedlings from these. I just ordered 3 native vines (prunus riparia).
Wow, that's great! I love when we can use older varieties. Where did you get the Niels Hansen grapes from? Interesting that you let them sprawl on the ground and don't prune them. Do you feel like the yield has decreased over time or remained the same? I'd be curious. Thanks for sharing!
I belonged to NAFEX (North American Fruit Explorers) years ago and someone from Ohio sent them to me. The organization is on the internet and probably only one in 100 articles is for our area. The vine grows longer every year and the yield increases (probably around 12 feet in dia. now. You might check out GRIN if you want. I think they have some of his varieties although they do not send out material to home gardeners (I am supposed to be getting the Blomidon strawberry for trial in a commercial plot). Some of Niels Hansen's varieties they have are Atkan, Azita, Chonkee, Eona, Mandan, Napka, Nompah, Onaka, Shakoka, Sonoma, Wachepa, Wecota, and Wetonka. They came out with the Blomidon strawberry 25 or so years ago and it disappeared. It has a distinctive flavor and I fell in love with it and have been trying to find a source for years. Someone said it had a fault and they quit selling it.
Very informative. Thanks for video.i.live in nj (zone 7)and have good results with concord but dont like there seeds..iin ur opinion is there other seedless varieties otherthan somerset which would do better?
Thanks for watching the video! I don't know of any others for a zone 4 climate that do better than somerset. However, being in Zone 7, you have way more options. I'd check with your local nursery to see what they might offer.
Hello Kareen! I live in Bozeman and have just started growing grapes. I would love to visit your gardens, is that possible? I was wondering if you bury your grape vines over the winter . . . how do you protect them? I have Muscadine and St. Croix growing and they did very well this summer for only being planted one year.
Hi Deborah, thanks for watching the video. I don't bury my grapevines over the winter but they end up being insulated quite well because they are right next to the driveway and we pile snow up against their vines. You could put a little bit of mulch/wood chip/straw around the base of the vines, however and that will help. I've done that, in the past, for clients, and that seems to work well. Glad you've had success this year with the varieties that you've planted. As to your question about tours, I'm pretty busy at this time of year with the harvest and preservation season. However, I usually do a public tour during the growing season (typically in July or August). Are you on my newsletter list? If not, you can sign-up at the link below (scroll down on the page) to get updated on tours/workshops and events. Thanks for your interest! brokengroundpermaculture.com/
🤔🤔ya I would t worry about your roots / the die back will be above ground, I hung with a small winemaker in ND and they don’t really insulate either The deer keep eating mine but that means I get new stuff - Brianna vines this year
Hi Samantha, I think you're right. I have since had people mention that they can grow wine grapes in zone 4. Perhaps they are not the super duper wine varieties and it could be that, in Montana, with our drier climate, that it's not optimal for wine-making. Do you know what variety they use at your vineyard in MN?
Broken Ground I’m afraid I don’t know, but I’ve been over there and tasted the wine and could ask next time I stop in. I want to start growing grapes next spring. My husband built me a grape arbor this fall.
@@samanthaquant7411 Yes! Definitely ask. The varieties I mention are really good for grape juice and grape jam but if you're looking for a wine variety, I'm sure that vineyard will be able to help you out. Glad you'll be growing grapes next spring!
Thanks for watching! I have since gotten some comments that they are, indeed, some wine-making grapes for our cold climate, Frontenac being one of them. You should check and see what variety your neighbor had as it might very well make a great wine!
Can't grow any grapes here Zone 1b, except MaYBE some prairie hardy varieties in Zone 2-3 microclimates (like against the barn wall, with trees on the other side). We don't even try anymore. Envious.
Try Beta grape vine... As long as you keep it buried under the snow in the winter time you should have no problem. The plant takes about 4 to 5 years to establish but well worth it. Small clusters tasting a lot like Concorde grape. fruit ready around mid August. We grow in zone 2 b Saskatchewan Canada! Good luck 😉
So I’m in Helena, and I just picked up a couple of Concord grape vines. Should I even bother planting them? I don’t know if they’re hardy enough for the Helena cold…we are in zone 4.
It seems like concord grapes are good from hardiness zone 5 and higher. At least, I haven't heard of concord grapes growing in our climate. Valiant, Frontenac, Beta all do well. Where did you get them? Shame on the store that sold them to you as I'm not sure they are going to make it...having said that, since you've already purchased them, you could plant them this year and just see...
@@BrokenGroundit was totally an impulse purchase from Walmart! I think I’ll probably be returning them and if I decide to invest in the grape growing process, may take your advice and just get some that do well in MT! I have purchased Concord grapes from Getman’s Orchard in Big Fork, but maybe they’re in a different zone than we are, and perhaps have milder winters. Being originally from NY, I’m a complete sucker for Concord grapes! Thanks for your reply and for your advice :)
@@tessmichel7788 Damn Walmart! Yep, as a rule, I never get plants from big box stores. I always imagine someone in their corporate office in some non-Montana climate making decisions about what to order and more often than not, they are wrong. They may have made that decision now that Montana is supposedly in zone 5 but I still wouldn't trust them!
I met someone who says that her Concord grapes have grown for the past 7 years and I live in zone 4 where it can get to 30 below zero not factoring in the windchill.
I have a question: Our long driveway runs northeast-southwest and we are in growing zone 3 in the Adirondacks. Could we still plant along our road if it runs SE to NW?
Greetings from zone 3 Wisconsin!! I am a very new gardener. I see obvious advantages of a micro-climate, but my springs here are volatile. I'm concerned about the micro-climate being effective and getting an early start then getting socked by bad weather. Any wisdom?
Hello! Thanks for your question. I hear you on volatile springs! We are the same. In our cold climates, it's definitely important as a gardener to remain vigilant and to be checking the weather and nighttime temperatures on a daily basis. This is especially important in the spring and fall. Frost cloths and covering tender plants is super important and goes a long way in terms of ensuring that you don't lose yields early in the season. For example, I often cover my grapes in May as the leaves are coming out and it threatens to go below freezing. For your annual gardens, wall-o-waters for tomatoes and peppers are very effective, in addition to the frost cloths that I mentioned. Depending on your goals, a greenhouse comes in handy as well! Let me know if you have any other questions!
Hi, Thanks for the video. I have a question if possible. My wife purchased 3 Cabernet Sauvignon plants for me at Christmas time to be delivered here in lower Michigan in may. I did not think this type (for wine) would grow well for us in zone 5. I will give it try, since their coming either way. Do you think if i followed your recommendations (full sun, insulated in winter, etc) that we might have a chance? We are in lower Michigan just outside of Detroit. Thanks
Thanks for watching. I definitely think it's worth a shot and finding a little microclimate for them would be a great idea. Good luck and let me know how it goes!
Broken Ground thanks for the reply. I called back the nursery/Vineyard and they said that one of the varieties has a possible chance. But it will take a little bit of work every year covering them over before the cold weather. And I still may lose them one year after doing so much work. Still not sure what I want to do they offered to swap out a different variety. I really really wanted to do Cabernet. I may try it just for the heck of it. Thx
@@TheLandlordPicker I think it's worth an experiment, just to see. If you go a couple years where you lose them, then you know the site probably won't work but it's a fairly low investment and if they do work, that would be great!
Broken Ground thx for the encouragement. Decided today i will switch the cabernet sauvignon to Cabernet Franc Grafts. They are zoned a little closer to my area (hardiness 6) have a good one. Keep up the channel👍
Great video! I’m in Zone 6a Idaho. Just wondering, did you say Hissop and Oregano plants are planted nearby? I’m thinking of trying this. Thank you! 🍇💕
Yes, but I've found that if I boil them down and strain them, it's fairly easy and straightforward. I also got a juicer this year so I'm going to try that as well. There is a variety, Somerset, that is seedless. It doesn't do as well as the Valiant but I'm getting better yields from it every year.
You can eat the grape seeds and they are really good for you. It's just a matter of chewing them up. Takes a bit to get past the idea that seeds are bad. Unlike apple seeds, grape seeds don't contain poison. Just google grape seed benefits. Plenty of health benefits.
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Thanks so much for watching! If you're growing grapes in a cold climate, I hope these tips make your life a little easier. :)
I was in Bozeman January 2019. I really liked the city. Beautiful
The ones you are growing will ferment & produce a wine. Depending on initial brix content that would dictate how much sugar you might want to add to get a better fermentation.
Try it, see how it goes. Worst case it won't be amazing, but you'll still drink it because you made it.
So true! I might try it this year. Right now, I also have a friend who is using the grapes to make Kombucha so that's fun as well. It tastes delicious!
Over here in Finland at 62 degrees North in the East my friend grew hardy grapes and successfully made a very amazing wine from them. We make wine from Aronia and red currants here. So I am going to give the hardy grapes a go if the ones I bought recently give me enough for a small fermenting vat.
Fun! I grow aronia and currants here too so maybe I'll try making wine with them! Thanks for watching the video.
Thanks. I might try grow some grapes in my garden next year. S-s-e, Ireland. Full sun patio.
Factory made pectin is just the worst tasting stuff. I use some lemon juice as a preservative and for marmalade I use the skin of washed organic oranges in place of pectin. One orange and equal weight sugar. Cut up the orange and then use a bullet-shaped drinks blender to blend up the orange skin and all. Add some water to help with blending and pouring. Another small tip for those making marmalade is to use Demerara sugar which suits much better and compliments the marmalade with a caramel-like flavour, warming up the taste. Not a crazy amount of lemon, just a squeeze. 15 minutes. Pour. Cool. Refrigerate.
Thanks so much for sharing. I live 90 miles away from you and want to start a small grape grow. Thanks for the jump start!
Awesome! Glad you found me and good luck with your grape growing!
We live in Casper, WY and grow Reliance, Valiant, and Concord. I love the Reliance, but they produce the least and have some bad years. We have plenty of room, so it is worth keeping them for how wonderful they are when we get a good crop. The BIGGEST trouble is that the birds also prefer them and go for those first. We need to harvest as soon as they are ready or they will be gone in a day or two. Birds seem to like grapes, cherries, and berries, a few days before I would call them "ready" to pick.
Yes, the birds! One year, we had a flock of wild turkeys who were eating ours! Always a little frustrating, though, honestly, sometimes it's good if they take some, especially when they are super abundant!
Thank you for the tips on growing grapes. I am in zone 4. Just bought Somerset, and edelweiss grape to plant. They both table grapes with sweet taste.
Wonderful! Thanks for watching!
As a child in the N.E. we didn't do anything but let them grow and we had so much juice and make jelly every year.
Agreed! Sometimes letting things grow wild is the best approach!
Ive also had a similar experience with sunset grapes, im in zone 3b in canada though. Comes back every year. Going on 6 or 7 years now but i only get 2, 3-4 bunches of grapes 🍇. They are quite good eating mind you for being zone 3 hardy, not as tart or astringent as other but not as good as store bought.
Have you tries borage to bring in pollinators, mostly bees? Its essentially a perennial lol vigorous self seeding and all.
I am finally getting more bunches on my Somerset vines but it has taken a few years. I'll be curious how they do in the coming years. I do have a bunch of borage as well and agree that it is definitely vigorous and often takes over parts of my garden!!
Good tips. I to am in Zone 4 Greybull Wyoming. I'm working on Beef Tomato's, Strawberries, And Ruby Roman Grapes. All indoor under Light in green house. Thanks for Sharing.
You're welcome, thanks for watching John!
wow that jam looks great😊
It's delicious and so simple!
Those are beautiful grape clusters! I'm in zone 6 so grapes do well here.
You're so lucky! You have so many more options in Zone 6!
I'm surprised to hear that you aren't able to grow grapes for wine. Frontenac and Sabrevois are varieties that many near me in 4b and farther north are growing for wine. I believe they are hybrids developed in Minnesota. Valiant isn't my first choice to try here because my hillside, while south facing, tends toward dampness so varieties with more mildew resistance get priority.
Hi Jill! Thanks for sharing. Where are you located? We get so little rain during July and August that I think Valiant grapes aren't susceptible to mildew here. And with our drier summers, it makes it even less of an issue. At least, I've never seen it. That's good to know though. What varieties do you grow? Interesting about the wine grapes, I'll look into it. Perhaps it's a bit of a myth that we can't grow them here and it's just been perpetuated through the growing networks!
I am in northern Vermont. We can lack precipitation in July and August too, but my property is on a damp slope from water uphill. I suspect there are springs here and there in the woods. So far I have just been growing wild grapes as it's only a recent solar install that's had us cut down enough trees for more light. I know that if the local nursery Elmore Roots grows it, than I can too.
@@BrokenGround Lots of people in South Saskatchewan in Zone 3 b grow them. They might hedge toward Zone 4, but that's doubtful, even south. We are Zone 1b up here in north SK, and we don't even try although I did have a couple of Frontenac a few years ago, which ultimately froze.
Great info. I’ll have to ask my sister and her fathers side of the family (different dads) about their wine grapes. Most of them are from Italy and immigrated to Canada decades ago. Her late father lived in Saskatoon Saskatchewan (grow zone 3) and he definitely had trellises of grapes growing along side his house and as an Italian of course he made his own wine. Late in life, he probably was too sick to do anything with those grapes, but he must have been using those for wine when he was younger.
Since making this video, I have had other people suggest cold climate wine grapes such as Frontenac so I guess they exist! Of course, we can make wine out of any fruit so I suppose any type of grape could be used, it just might not be the best wine 🙂
im in Bitterrot Valley, zone 5b and several small vineyards are making wine from local grapes: la crescent, itasca, marquette, frontenac. i got all from Northeastern Vine Supply. see also Montana Grape and Wine Association... so local wines are possible if done right. cheers.
Great to hear! I think our slightly colder growing zone (4b) makes some fruit like peaches and often apricots, in addition to some grape varieties, just out of reach. But I'm sure you're right, that if you find the right variety, it's possible! Thanks for letting me know!
Cool video . Just found your channel cant wait to see more, i orderd my first grapes from the local nursery for spring. Just subscribed much love from Canadian proud get outdoors
Thanks for watching and subscribing! Good luck with growing your grapes!
I am already liking it.
OH! And do you have a video about (or can you be more specific on) your way of making jam without sugar? I don't eat sugar or sweeteners in any form except pure fruit, so I was excited to hear about this.
I don't have a video but with the grapes, I bring them to a boil then simmer them for quite awhile. Then I strain them through a cheesecloth to get the seeds out and put the liquid back in the pot. I then simmer that liquid until it's reduced by at least half. It takes several hours but makes your house smell delicious ;-). I test it occasionally by taking a little bit out and putting it on a plate to see how thick it is. Since it doesn't have additional sugar, it's basically like freezer jam so I do freeze it in jars. But it's so yummy and like you, I hate how much sugar you have to add to regular jam that it sort of defeats the purpose of using homegrown fruit, in my opinion. Good luck and let me know how it goes!
I'm growing two wine grapes in zone 4 that are allegedly hardy down to -35F. White variety Prairie Star and red variety Marquette. So there is hope for wine grapes in colder zones...
That's great! Yes, since I've made this video, it seems like I've heard of more wine making cold climate varieties of grapes. Which is good news for all of us! Thanks for sharing!
Vines buried under snow are protected quite a bit from being injured by freezing. There is a big temp difference under the snow vs. in the open air.
Yes, definitely. I think that's why the vines like it where they do! Thanks for watching!
I have one grapevine in my garden in Oslo, Norway. I think I have Zilga, I got it some ten years ago. I get lots of småll blue grapes with kernels and thick skin. I ´m looking for ideas and maybe want to plant a second vine next to the one I´ve got. Then I found your blog, and you said in the video that you wanted feedback. Nurseries here sell a lot of varieties from the baltic region. I made grape jelly with part of my crop, but think I maybe want to try making juice with the rest. Though the grapes tastes sweet, the juice was quite sour, so needed to add some sugar to the juice. My vine have proved to be perfectly hardy, and it is completely hazzle-free, I don´t prune it or feed it or cover it. I think it is also quite decorative, and people tend to be very impressed that I grow grapes at all here, as Norway is not one of the big wine-producing countries. So overall my grapevine has proven to a good garden plant. You may have harsher climate there than I have?
Hi Inger, thanks so much for your insights. Yes, I believe we have a slightly harsher climate than you do. We are in USDA hardiness zone 4b which means that are average annual extreme minimum winter temperatures gets down to between -31 and -28 degrees C. We are also at elevation which also makes it a little trickier. I love that you have a maintenance free vine. I sort of treat mine that way as well :-). Though I think it desperately needs a little bit of pruning!
I also live in zone 4 (Minnesota) & we have a winery here that grows many varieties for wine. You should contact them, Three Oaks Wine, Albert Lea, MN
Great, thanks for the tip Beth! I suspect that might not grow great in this climate, even though it's zone 4, because we have limited rainfall. I'll do more research!
I’m so excited I found you!! I’m in zone 4 in Wyoming so same climate as you. I don’t know anyone in my area that has been successful in growing any edible perennials accept mint and berries. No vines or trees though. I was turned onto permaculture 2 years ago and have been working on turning our backyard into a food forest. I’m looking forward this summer to put some more things in my yard and doing some of the things you suggest! I think I have a good spot to put some grapes! Thanks for the videos!!
Hi Kristin! I'm glad you found me as well. There are so many options for perennials in zone 4, I'm glad you'll serve as an example in Wyoming! I try to encourage my clients to put in as many perennials as possible if they have the space, they are so much less work than my annual garden. Have a great growing season!
How did it go? I am in Wyoming too. Dreaming on growing perennial edibles too 😂😬😅
Great video thank you!
You're welcome!
awesome! we live in Zone 5B and we love our grapes
Wonderful!
You still can produce wine from grape varieties that are jam and juice varieties
Yes! I should have mentioned that! Thanks for watching.
I have only done a small amount of research on grapes and have found that Prairie Star grapes will grow in a zone 3 and are great for eating and making wine. As I said, I could be wrong but I've read this several places and I think I will try these next year. Let me know what you think because you have more experience in this than I do so I would greatly appreciate and reverberation or advice you can give me on this especially the Prairie Star grapes.
I have since discovered that there are some wine making grapes that will work in our hardiness zone so I say go for it. Good luck!
I have three Beta pots sitting dormant in my cold porch, waiting to be planted out in spring! I also have some Blue Ice and Severnji vines; do you have any experience or recommendations with those? We have a hops vine that grows massively over a shed every year, close to where I've planned for these grapes next to another dark green south-facing shed. Fingers crossed! We're more like 3a up here in northeastern Alberta--but you never know!
I don't have experience with Blue Ice or Severnji vines but if they are rated for that zone, I'd say go for it! And with that area right against your shed, I'm sure it's a little bit of a microclimate. The only thing that I would say is that hops tends to take over everything so I wonder if it might outcompete the vines, over time. Where are you in Northeastern Alberta? I grew up in Edmonton!
3:00 you can grow Fredonia and others to make wine in zone 4
Yes! I have since learned from posting this that are a few different wine grape options. Thanks so much for sharing! Appreciate it!
Great video! 👍
Glad you enjoyed, thanks for watching!
I believe you could try to make some “ice wine” with some of your grapes. Let some grapes stay on the vine until winter, then pick them. We grow a lot of grapes here in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. The wine is delicious. The varieties of grape used in this process is eluding me, but considering you have cold varieties, it’s worth checking into. Have a great day!
That's a great idea. I might try that out this year. I have since learned that the Frontenac variety grows in our climate and is used to make wine as well. So I might have to plant some of those too! Thanks for watching!
I have 2 young plants, 6 months old or so in decent size pots outside. Should I put them in my small greenhouse outside during the winter or bring them into the house?
I'd bring them into the house. If they are small and in pots, then it's unlikely that they will be insulated enough to survive outside. But, depending on just how big they are, you could put them together and insulate them with wood chip or straw. Together with the snow, you may be able to insulate the roots enough so they don't die.
Hi! The jam sounds good. Do you have instructions on how to make it ? Thank you !
Boil down the grapes and then put the liquid through a sieve to get rid of the seeds. Then take that liquid and boil it down at least by half to thicken it. That's it! No additives. Then freeze it!
When would you plant vines? I picked up an Elvira and Beta variety last weekend. I don’t know if I should pot them temporarily or not. One has started it’s leaves, the other is very dormant. We’re zone 4b.
I assume they are bare root and if that is the case, then you should plant them ASAP.
Where did you get your harvest basket from? I've been looking without success for a two handled wire harvest basket like the one you show in this video. Thank you in advance for your response. And thank you for your videos they are so informative and helpful.
Hi Christine! My husband got it for me as a gift. He thinks he got it at Planet Natural, which was a local garden center here that has since closed. But they do have an online shop. Good luck and let me know if you find one! Thanks for watching my videos. I look forward to connecting with you through the PDC!
Hey like your vids 😉
What kind of gardening basket is that? I have the one that looks the same except the handle does not flatten. Can you tell me where I might find the basket like yours?
Unfortunately, my husband gave it to me as a gift and he can't remember where he got it from! It's super handy and I wish he remembered. You're not the first person to ask!
Watching your video, thank you for the information... just wondering if you’ve ever seen or grown “ Prairie star grape”? I’m just curious if it grows strong like valiant grape vine. I am growing in zone 2/3 Saskatchewan Canada
Thanks for watching! I don't have any experience with Prairie Star, unfortunately. I'm sure if it's rated for a zone 2/3 growing climate, it should do fairly well. Good luck!
Martha... I'm also in SK!!
How is your Prairie Star doing? I'm in the Edmonton area and just brought home a Marquette to plant on my southwest wall. Fingers crossed.
@@andersquist8436: so far so good! It’s little tho so I might be waiting a long time for grapes lol. Good luck! Looks like it might be a good year for grapes to establish 👍🏻happy growing
Your grapes are beautiful but if you want to them grow even better thin down the canopy when you prune more sunlight is better over crowding isn’t good either if have plants close by it will effect the growth process I live higher elevation here in northern California we get snow every year and have short seasons it can be tuff I grow my grapes like you would at vineyard in full sun and I get so many grapes now 🍇 check out some videos on vineyard grows I think you will see a big difference in your quantity and quality of grapes especially if your tight on space the two types of pruning makes a big difference to get the most out of your grapes I like how your grapes grow on your fence you don’t have to build anything to hold them up thats great well happy 🌱 planting and prosperous growth
Thanks for the recommendations! Appreciate it!
Do you have any advice on pruning and training young grapevines? I have two plants that I put in last spring and one put up a shoot that almost reached the top of the fence. This spring it has numerous buds all along the stem that are leafing out. I’ve watched videos about limiting the side shoots to tow “levels” - one maybe two feet up and the other one at the top. Is that necessary or can I just let them do their thing? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Judy! I let my grapevines do their thing for the first few years and they turned out fine. However, I think if you prune them early on, you get thicker main vines, which is always good in terms of the robustness of the plant. Sometimes the pruning is about maximizing yield as well, since people are often doing it commercially. I partly neglected my vines the first few years because I had so many other things to do on the homestead but if I had to do it over again, I might be a little more intentional.
Marquette, Petite Pearl, Skujinsh are wine grapes for zone 4. Marquette is actually zone 3.
Wonderful, thanks for sharing! Do you know where to get these varieties or what nursery supplies them?
@@BrokenGround Double A Vineyards and Bevins Creek or nevinesupply.com
I am growing (near Broadus) a few of Niels Hansen's grapes from crosses made probably 100 years ago (other examples are Osbu, Mandan, Shakoka, etc.) I do not know what the variety names are. My favorite is a blue grape, kind of looks like Valiant, and is good for juice and jelly. I let it sprawl along the ground and do not prune it. The other grapes I have of Niel's are shy bearers, but in some years taste almost like a Concord. I have several hundred very young seedlings from these. I just ordered 3 native vines (prunus riparia).
That should be Vitis Riparia for the wild riverbank grape.
Wow, that's great! I love when we can use older varieties. Where did you get the Niels Hansen grapes from? Interesting that you let them sprawl on the ground and don't prune them. Do you feel like the yield has decreased over time or remained the same? I'd be curious. Thanks for sharing!
I belonged to NAFEX (North American Fruit Explorers) years ago and someone from Ohio sent them to me. The organization is on the internet and probably only one in 100 articles is for our area. The vine grows longer every year and the yield increases (probably around 12 feet in dia. now. You might check out GRIN if you want. I think they have some of his varieties although they do not send out material to home gardeners (I am supposed to be getting the Blomidon strawberry for trial in a commercial plot). Some of Niels Hansen's varieties they have are Atkan, Azita, Chonkee, Eona, Mandan, Napka, Nompah, Onaka, Shakoka, Sonoma, Wachepa, Wecota, and Wetonka. They came out with the Blomidon strawberry 25 or so years ago and it disappeared. It has a distinctive flavor and I fell in love with it and have been trying to find a source for years. Someone said it had a fault and they quit selling it.
GRIN stands for Germplasm Resources Information Network
@@donbirkholz6842 Thanks for the additional info!
Very informative. Thanks for video.i.live in nj (zone 7)and have good results with concord but dont like there seeds..iin ur opinion is there other seedless varieties otherthan somerset which would do better?
Thanks for watching the video! I don't know of any others for a zone 4 climate that do better than somerset. However, being in Zone 7, you have way more options. I'd check with your local nursery to see what they might offer.
Hello Kareen! I live in Bozeman and have just started growing grapes. I would love to visit your gardens, is that possible? I was wondering if you bury your grape vines over the winter . . . how do you protect them? I have Muscadine and St. Croix growing and they did very well this summer for only being planted one year.
Hi Deborah, thanks for watching the video. I don't bury my grapevines over the winter but they end up being insulated quite well because they are right next to the driveway and we pile snow up against their vines. You could put a little bit of mulch/wood chip/straw around the base of the vines, however and that will help. I've done that, in the past, for clients, and that seems to work well. Glad you've had success this year with the varieties that you've planted. As to your question about tours, I'm pretty busy at this time of year with the harvest and preservation season. However, I usually do a public tour during the growing season (typically in July or August). Are you on my newsletter list? If not, you can sign-up at the link below (scroll down on the page) to get updated on tours/workshops and events. Thanks for your interest! brokengroundpermaculture.com/
🤔🤔ya I would t worry about your roots / the die back will be above ground, I hung with a small winemaker in ND and they don’t really insulate either
The deer keep eating mine but that means I get new stuff - Brianna vines this year
Are you sure about the grapes for wine thing? We live in MN zone 4 and have a vineyard down the road who grows and makes their own wine.
Hi Samantha, I think you're right. I have since had people mention that they can grow wine grapes in zone 4. Perhaps they are not the super duper wine varieties and it could be that, in Montana, with our drier climate, that it's not optimal for wine-making. Do you know what variety they use at your vineyard in MN?
Broken Ground I’m afraid I don’t know, but I’ve been over there and tasted the wine and could ask next time I stop in. I want to start growing grapes next spring. My husband built me a grape arbor this fall.
@@samanthaquant7411 Yes! Definitely ask. The varieties I mention are really good for grape juice and grape jam but if you're looking for a wine variety, I'm sure that vineyard will be able to help you out. Glad you'll be growing grapes next spring!
Thanks for this video! I'm in MN and I have a neighbor who made wine from his grapes (couldn't tell you how it tasted though :).
Thanks for watching! I have since gotten some comments that they are, indeed, some wine-making grapes for our cold climate, Frontenac being one of them. You should check and see what variety your neighbor had as it might very well make a great wine!
Can't grow any grapes here Zone 1b, except MaYBE some prairie hardy varieties in Zone 2-3 microclimates (like against the barn wall, with trees on the other side). We don't even try anymore. Envious.
Try to get the hardiest variety there is, such as Beta. Then try burying the vines during winter, or try the fan training system.
Try Beta grape vine... As long as you keep it buried under the snow in the winter time you should have no problem. The plant takes about 4 to 5 years to establish but well worth it. Small clusters tasting a lot like Concorde grape. fruit ready around mid August. We grow in zone 2 b Saskatchewan Canada! Good luck 😉
So I’m in Helena, and I just picked up a couple of Concord grape vines. Should I even bother planting them? I don’t know if they’re hardy enough for the Helena cold…we are in zone 4.
It seems like concord grapes are good from hardiness zone 5 and higher. At least, I haven't heard of concord grapes growing in our climate. Valiant, Frontenac, Beta all do well. Where did you get them? Shame on the store that sold them to you as I'm not sure they are going to make it...having said that, since you've already purchased them, you could plant them this year and just see...
@@BrokenGroundit was totally an impulse purchase from Walmart! I think I’ll probably be returning them and if I decide to invest in the grape growing process, may take your advice and just get some that do well in MT! I have purchased Concord grapes from Getman’s Orchard in Big Fork, but maybe they’re in a different zone than we are, and perhaps have milder winters. Being originally from NY, I’m a complete sucker for Concord grapes! Thanks for your reply and for your advice :)
@@tessmichel7788 Damn Walmart! Yep, as a rule, I never get plants from big box stores. I always imagine someone in their corporate office in some non-Montana climate making decisions about what to order and more often than not, they are wrong. They may have made that decision now that Montana is supposedly in zone 5 but I still wouldn't trust them!
I met someone who says that her Concord grapes have grown for the past 7 years and I live in zone 4 where it can get to 30 below zero not factoring in the windchill.
@@smffboe7733 That's great to hear! I haven't heard of that in our region but there are always microclimates and exceptions. Thanks for sharing!
What do you cover them with?
Do you mean the vines? I don't cover the vines, I just mulch around the base of the vines and then they are insulated by the snow.
I have a question: Our long driveway runs northeast-southwest and we are in growing zone 3 in the Adirondacks. Could we still plant along our road if it runs SE to NW?
Yes, I think that would be fine. Good luck!
Greetings from zone 3 Wisconsin!! I am a very new gardener. I see obvious advantages of a micro-climate, but my springs here are volatile. I'm concerned about the micro-climate being effective and getting an early start then getting socked by bad weather. Any wisdom?
Hello! Thanks for your question. I hear you on volatile springs! We are the same. In our cold climates, it's definitely important as a gardener to remain vigilant and to be checking the weather and nighttime temperatures on a daily basis. This is especially important in the spring and fall. Frost cloths and covering tender plants is super important and goes a long way in terms of ensuring that you don't lose yields early in the season. For example, I often cover my grapes in May as the leaves are coming out and it threatens to go below freezing. For your annual gardens, wall-o-waters for tomatoes and peppers are very effective, in addition to the frost cloths that I mentioned. Depending on your goals, a greenhouse comes in handy as well! Let me know if you have any other questions!
Hi, Thanks for the video. I have a question if possible. My wife purchased 3 Cabernet Sauvignon plants for me at Christmas time to be delivered here in lower Michigan in may. I did not think this type (for wine) would grow well for us in zone 5. I will give it try, since their coming either way. Do you think if i followed your recommendations (full sun, insulated in winter, etc) that we might have a chance? We are in lower Michigan just outside of Detroit.
Thanks
Thanks for watching. I definitely think it's worth a shot and finding a little microclimate for them would be a great idea. Good luck and let me know how it goes!
Broken Ground thanks for the reply. I called back the nursery/Vineyard and they said that one of the varieties has a possible chance. But it will take a little bit of work every year covering them over before the cold weather. And I still may lose them one year after doing so much work. Still not sure what I want to do they offered to swap out a different variety. I really really wanted to do Cabernet. I may try it just for the heck of it. Thx
@@TheLandlordPicker I think it's worth an experiment, just to see. If you go a couple years where you lose them, then you know the site probably won't work but it's a fairly low investment and if they do work, that would be great!
Broken Ground thx for the encouragement. Decided today i will switch the cabernet sauvignon to Cabernet Franc Grafts. They are zoned a little closer to my area (hardiness 6) have a good one. Keep up the channel👍
Great video! I’m in Zone 6a Idaho. Just wondering, did you say Hissop and Oregano plants are planted nearby? I’m thinking of trying this. Thank you! 🍇💕
Yes! I have Hyssop and oregano growing just below the grape vines. Anise hyssop would be great too!
Thank you!!
Grapes dont flower so why polinator?
Grapes have very small flowers.
Nice. But grapes with seeds. What a pain
Why is it a pain?
Yes, but I've found that if I boil them down and strain them, it's fairly easy and straightforward. I also got a juicer this year so I'm going to try that as well. There is a variety, Somerset, that is seedless. It doesn't do as well as the Valiant but I'm getting better yields from it every year.
You can eat the grape seeds and they are really good for you. It's just a matter of chewing them up. Takes a bit to get past the idea that seeds are bad. Unlike apple seeds, grape seeds don't contain poison. Just google grape seed benefits. Plenty of health benefits.