 |
I've become convinced, as I studied for this list,
that there are a lot of other grapes that would do
well in Utah. This one still needs to be evaluated
for the list. |
Grapes might just be the best fruit crop for Utah. Grapes do well in dry areas with hot summers; and that fits Utah perfectly! In fact as long as I can remember I have seen chain link fences covered with big leafed vines with dusty-blue fruit peeping out here and there.
As much as I like the flavor that comes out of the blue-black Concord grapes when in juice or jam, I've always thought it lacks texture for fresh eating. Fortunately in the last couple of decades, green table grapes have been planted more often along the Wasatch Front. That still left a big gap in the potential for pinkish-red grapes and blue-black grapes for the table.
I've found some good red table grapes, now, and a few black table grapes as well. So to help you along I've put a list together of basic starter vines of all colors.
Variety
|
Table
|
Juice-
Jelly
|
Raisin
|
Color
|
Zone
|
Seed-
less
|
Notes
|
Black Monukka
|
Y
|
|
Y
|
Purple-
Black
|
6-10
|
Y
|
Self-fruitful. One of the hardiest European
grapes.
|
Buffalo
|
|
Y
|
|
Blue-
Black
|
5-8
|
|
Earlier than Concord. Juice aged for best flavor. Less
Foxy than Concord.
|
Campbell
Early
|
|
Y
|
|
Blue-
Black
|
5-9
|
|
2-3 weeks earlier than Concord. Needs rich soil.
|
Concord
|
|
Y
|
|
Blue-
Black
|
4-9
|
|
Long favored standard for juice and jelly.
Self-fruitful.
|
Fredonia
|
|
Y
|
|
Blue-
Black
|
5-7
|
|
Earlier than Concord, but not as good. Later than
Buffalo.
|
Glenora
|
Y
|
|
|
Black
|
6-9
|
Y
|
Less hardy than Venus. Good fall leaf color.
|
Jupiter
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Reddish-
Blue
|
5-9
|
Y
|
Scored well on taste tests. Stays on vine after
maturity.
|
Mars
Seedless
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Blue-
Black
|
5-8
|
Y
|
Long vine life. Less foxy than Concord.
|
Venus
|
Y
|
|
|
Black
|
5-9
|
Y
|
Large, good quality. Early.
|
Canadice
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Red
|
4-8
|
Y
|
Good winter hardiness. Self-fruitful. Some spice to
flavor. Clusters weak and ragged looking. Production low for commercial
plantings.
|
Reliance
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
Red
|
4-8
|
Y
|
Good flavor, thin skin. Good winter hardiness. Very
likely the best red grape for Utah.
|
Suffolk
Red
|
Y
|
|
|
Red
|
6-8
|
Y
|
Largest berries of the seedless Euro-American hybrids. Self-fruitful.
|
Golden
Muscat
|
Y
|
|
|
Green-
gold
|
6-10
|
|
Self-fruitful. A good home grape that likes a hot, dry
climate.
|
Himrod
|
Y
|
|
Y
|
White-
Green
|
5-9
|
Y
|
Early, loose clusters. More winter hardy than
Interlaken. Small high quality berries. Clusters loose and shaggy. Needs to
be picked immediately when ripe, otherwise the berries fall.
|
Interlaken
|
Y
|
|
Y
|
White-
Green
|
5-8
|
Y
|
A week earlier than Himrod and slightly hardier. Berries
can drop prematurely. Self-fruitful. Good frozen.
|
Lakemont
|
Y
|
|
|
White-
Green
|
5-8
|
Y
|
Later than Himrod. Big clusters, good producer. Relative
good keeper.
|
Niagra
|
|
Y
|
|
White-
Green
|
5-9
|
|
Sometimes called 'White Concord.' Good mix with Concord
type for juice.
|
|
