PROJECT RESULTS

Growing Grapes in Manitoba

Applicant: 

Thomas Menold
Carman, Manitoba  R0G 0J0  Canada

Table of Contents:

• Background and Objective
• Procedure and Project Activities
• Results and Discussion
• Conclusions

ARDI Project:

#98-235

Project Status:

Completed May, 2002

Background and Objective:

Grapes are nothing new to Manitoba. Native wild grapes can be found throughout the province. They are very hardy, able to survive the short growing season and severe winters. These two factors being the reason for the difficulty of consistently producing mature fruit and wood from cultured grapevines. The major limiting factor being the severe Manitoba winters. Most varieties are unable to withstand extremely cold winters without use of special cultural practices. New varieties are being developed that combine good quality with extreme cold hardiness.

Procedure and Project Activities:

Choosing Plant Stock

When choosing planting stock, it is best to deal directly with a reputable nursery, order early and negotiate a timely delivery for immediate planting. The ideal time to plant grapes is as soon as the soil can be worked usually early May.

There is a large difference in survival rate between self-rooted plants and own-rooted. It is recommended to purchase own-rooted plants as they have been raised outdoors the previous year and have developed buds. Self-rooted plants being cuttings started in a green house in February or March of the same year they are being sold. These tend to be more fragile with less developed root systems and very sensitive to the indoor-outdoor transition.

Most nurseries supply grafted plants, which have the disadvantage of not being able to be regrown from the roots if the grafted piece suffers from winterkill.

The grapevine is a long living woody perennial plant that cannot be relocated once established and, therefore, careful consideration must be given to a permanent planting site. The planting site should provide as much heat as possible. North-south rows allow better exposure of foliage to sunlight.

Grapes grow well in a wide variety of soils provided that drainage is satisfactory. Most garden soils contain adequate supply of organic matter, thereby eliminating the need of fertilization. More problems arise for the grape vine from ‘overfeeding’ than from ‘underfeeding.’

Rows should be spaced according to the size of equipment used in the vineyard such as tractor, cultivator, spreader (about 10 feet apart). This spacing of the rows will also provide sufficient air circulation (reducing the incidences of disease), sunlight exposure, and room to attend to individual plants. Before planting, trim roots and cut back vine to a single cane of two or three buds.

When using the training system, the appropriate plant spacing is 31 inches apart. The vine should be planted at the same depth as grown in the nursery, usually 8 inches deep.

The first four weeks of the newly planted grapevine are the most critical; a sufficient moisture supply is essential.

The use of grow tubes is not recommended. The tubes stimulate quick growth, but do not allow for proper maturing of wood necessary for winter survival. However, if grow tubes are to be used, monitor carefully and remove from plants in July, keeping in mind the risk of the plants getting scorched.

During the first two years of vine growth, all flower clusters should be removed since flowering and fruit production would drain most of the vine’s resources. By following this procedure, more resources are provided for the development of the root system and trunk of the vine.

It takes up to four years for a grape vine to produce at full capacity, at which time a vine may produce 5 - 10 kg of grapes, dependant on the variety.

The vines are pruned in early spring while the vine is still dormant. Some ‘bleeding’ of the vine may occur, however, this does no harm to the plant. By supporting the vines and restricting vegetative growth, maturity of wood and fruit is stimulated, yields are improved, exposure of foliage to sunlight is maximized, and disease resistance is increased (i.e. mildew).

The soil is worked well around each vine from early spring to mid summer. Later by allowing a cover crop to grow competition for water and other nutrients will also encourage maturing of the grape vine.

Plants with a leaf canopy higher off the ground will survive the first fall frost better, allowing for a longer maturing period. This system of training is conducive to laying vines down if necessary during the winter season. Varieties sensitive to the extreme cold need to have trunks with the flexibility to be laid down on the ground and covered throughout the winter. To provide this flexibility every two to four years as the need arises, a new shoot is trained from the bottom of the vine.

Severe winter temperatures (below –25°C) can set back or completely destroy a successful vine that has flourished for several years. One way to maintain reasonable production in marginal areas is to cover the vines during the winter season. There are several options available:

• Flax Shives: This is one of the more desirable winter coverings for vines as it is a very good insulator, sheds water from snow melt, repels rodents, easily removed in spring, may use a manure spreader with chute to cover vines, and may be worked into ground adding organic matter to soil.
• Snow: An excellent insulator, however, it is reliant on winter temperatures and moisture. There may not be enough snow available or the snow may melt before the freezing temperatures are done for the season, thereby exposing the plants to extreme temperatures.
• Straw: Insulates well, but attracts rodents, will soak up water from snow melt which then could freeze the vine if another frost were to occur.
• Soil: Another good insulator against severe temperatures, but it is harder to remove from vines making it more labor intensive, and may increase incidence of fungal disease.

• Weeds: Best practice is to weed manually with a hoe around each individual vine and cultivate between rows. This process not only gets rid of the competing weeds, but also aerates the soil and promotes heat absorption.  In Spring, RoundUp Transorb may also be used especially on hard to control perennials, being careful not to expose green foliage of grape vines to chemical.
• Mildew: Powdery mildew can be combated with the use of Nova. Downy mildew can be combated with the use of Dithane. These two chemicals can be tank mixed and, with label directions being followed, a good success rate can be achieved. It is recommended to use no more than three applications during the growing season. Preventative applications are applied pre- and post- bloom, especially on highly susceptible varieties.
• Deer: These herbivores favor the succulent grape leaves and new shoots. The most effective way to keep them from damaging the grape vines is fencing the vineyard.
• Cutworms: The tender young grape plants are most susceptible to cutworm damage. Cutworm dust (0.5% chlorpyrifos) may be incorporated on a regular basis as a preventative measure or if the vineyard is well monitored as soon as damage is noted.
• Wasps: Once the grape berries start to ripen, wasps will break open the skin of the grape and feed on the flesh. As a preventative and very effectual method, wasp traps can be hung in the vineyard. The wasp traps consist of household items that include a plastic bottle (no lid) that can hold at least 750 mL of liquid, a string to hang bottle from trellis system, and some WasPotion (approx. 175 mL/bottle).

WasPotion
2 tablespoons	sugar
250 mL	water
250 mL	vinegar
250 mL	fruit juice
Combine all ingredients and heat until sugar is completely dissolved.  Let cool and fill bottles to about a ¼ full each.  Tie the string around the neck of each bottle and hang into vineyard from the wires just as the grapes are starting to turn color.  One bottle will provide enought protection from wasps for approximately 20 grape plants.  Wasps are enticed into the bottles by the smell of the potion; they however are not able to get back out.

Results and Discussion:

More grapes are grown than any other fruit in the world. Of these, 90% are used to make wine. Grapes are also consumed fresh, in jams, jellies, juice, and baked delicacies. Grape seed oil is used in cosmetics, and as cooking oil is rated healthier than extra virgin olive oil.

* Grow tubes were used on these vines.

Conclusions:

This project has been proven to be successful in many areas. Discoveries have been made throughout the course of this project:

• Flax shives have tested to be the best winter cover for grapevines.
• Spacing of rows at about 10 feet is good practice for both the health of vines and performing maintenance of vineyard.
• Tapener is an easy to use time saving device.
• The trellis system described in this report helps avoid damage from mild-early frosts (high canopy), aids in the ease of pruning, training and harvest of grapes.
• Contacts were made with several associations, vintners and researchers, allowing for exchange of information of cold tolerant grapes.
• The use of grow tubes is not recommended as they prevent proper maturity of vines, making them extremely sensitive to the cold winter climate.

Although funding through the ARDI program has drawn to an end, the search for the best cold tolerant grape varieties will continue. Three years of data has not provided enough data to come to befitting conclusion as to which variety is the best. It has, however, been able to afford us the following observations:

• Severnji – tastiest, hardy grape, plentiful producer, a favorite, will definitely perform more trials on this variety, it shows a lot of promise.
• Minnesota #78 – hardy grape, good flavor, disease resistant.
• Marécheal Foch – good flavor, consistent producer, less hardy, will survive if covered during winter.
• Vandal Cliché – good flavor, hardy vine, disease resistant, the white grape equivalent of the red Severnji.
• Kay Gray – low maintenance vine (little thinning needed), grape over matures very quickly, timing of harvest is important here.
• Gewurztraminer – least winter hardy out of varieties tried in this project.
• Red Candace – hard to establish, easily aborts fruit, late maturing.
• Valiant – is most hardy, plentiful producer, susceptible to downy mildew, has a foxy flavor which is often not favored.
• Ontario Green – big firm plump berries, but undesirable in flavor.

Research will continue on the varieties tested in this project as well as any new varieties coming on to the market.

Resource Organizations, Associations, and Individuals:

Food Development Centre
Wine analysis, product development
Box 1240, 810 Phillips Street ~ Portage La Prairie, MB ~ R1N 3J9

Fruit & Vegetable Magazine
Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. ~ 222 Argyle Ave. ~ Delhi, ON ~ N4B 2Y2

Kentville Research Station
Dr. Andrew R. Jamieson ~ Kentville, Nova Scotia ~ B4N 1J5

Minnesota Grape Growers Association
Yearbook, quarterly newsletter, tours, symposium
Box 10605 ~ White Bear Lake, MN ~ 55110 ~ USA

Minnesota Horticultural Research Center/ University of Minnesota
Professor Peter Hemstead ~ 600 Arboretum Blvd. ~ Excelsior, MN ~ 55331 ~ USA

Norwest Laboratories
Wine analysis
1357 Dugald Road ~ Winnipeg, MB ~ R2J 0H3

Vineland Experimental Farm
Dr. Helen Fischer, Guelph University, ON

Sources of Vineyard Supplies:

Criveller Company Canada
6935 Oakwood Drive ~ Niagara Falls, ON ~ L2E 6S5

Elnova Ltd.
160 Rue de la Montagne ~ Rougemont, Quebec ~ J0L 1M0

Zeller & Sons Enterprises Ltd.
RR #1, 2360 Naramata Road ~ Naramata, BC ~ V0H 1N0

Sources of Vines :

Aubin Nurseries Ltd.
Box 861 ~ Vineland, ON ~ L0R 2C0

Canada Food Inspection Agency
Centre For Plant Health ~ 8801 East Saanich Rd ~ Sidney, BC ~ V8L 1H3

Corn Hill Nursery Ltd.
Rte. 890, RR #5 ~ Petitcodiac, NB ~ E0A 2H0

Euro Nursery & Vineyard
3197 Culp Road ~ Jordan, ON ~ L0R 1S0

Mori Vines Inc.
RR #2 ~ Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON ~ L0S 1J0

Taylor Acres Grape Propagation
S.68, C.18, RR #2 ~ 5801 Andrew Avenue ~ Summerland, BC ~ V0H 1Z0

Viticulture A et M Inc.
Alain Breault ~ 313 Begin ~ Brigham, Quebec ~ J2K 4Y5

Bibliography:

Agriculture Canada. Growing Garden Grapes. Publication 677 E

Minnesota Grape Growers Association. Growing Grapes In Minnesota. Minnesota Grape Growers Association 1991.

Ontario Ministry Of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs. Fruit Production Recommendations 2000-2001. Publication 360.

Jancis Robinson. Jancis Robinson’s Guide To Wine Grapes. 1996 Oxford University Press.

Acknowledgements:

This grape research project continues to be a ‘work in progress,’ with input from many individuals and organizations.

My family is involved in the grape industry and has been doing so for several generations. Their knowledge, experience and guidance have been an invaluable resource.

The Agri-Food Research and Development Initiative (ARDI) has provided this project with financial support over the last three years. ARDI is an initiative introduced by Manitoba Agriculture and Food and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to explore new agricultural technologies, market opportunities and production methods.

Often one referral has lead to another, to another, etc. The list of Resource Organizations, Associations, and Individuals were all contributors in one form or another in this venture.

Any data, analyses of data, project results, conclusions or any other information within this report are those of Thomas Menold and not of MAAS, Manitoba Agriculture and Food nor Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

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