Niagara Grapes

Niagara Grapes are a white variety that produces large clusters of sweet, juicy grapes. This grape is one of the most popular choice for wine, juices, jellies and jams. They have an aromatic smell coming from their medium to large sized globes. The vines can also produce fruits for up to 20 years. This variety known as Vitis Nia performs best in USDA growing zones 7-9 in full sun. Niagara Grapes are fast growers maturing to a height of 12 feet tall and 5-8 in width. They also mature changing from a light green to a pale, yellow-green color.

Location: When planting Niagara grapes, find a location that offers full sun and moist, well-draining soil. Avoid shaded areas as fruit set/production will be reduced in the absence of sun during the growing season. Niagara grapess are a vine and will require some type of trellis to grow on properly.

Planting Instructions:
1) Dig your hole 3 times the width and slightly shallower than the root ball.
2) Loosen the soil, in and around the hole so the roots can easily break through.
3) Use your fingers to separate the roots of your Niagara vine and gently position downward in the hole. The top of the root flare (where the roots end and the trunk begins) should be about an inch above the surrounding soil.
4) Begin to backfill the site, tamping down the soil as you go.
5) Apply water to settle the soil and remove any air pockets that may have formed then mulch to retain soil moisture.

Watering: Water regularly for the first year by giving your plants about 1 inch of water (1-2 gallons) a week. Directly moisten the roots but avoid spraying or misting the grapes. After the vines are a bit more established, they will seldom need watering. Be watchful for leaf drop, this is an early warning sign that you may be over watering.

Pollination: Most species of grape are self-fertile but a good rule of green thumb is to always plant in pairs. This will assure you a healthy yield of fruit come harvest time.

Fertilizing: Apply half cup 10-10-10 fertilizer just after growth begins and again four weeks later. In the second year apply two rounds of fertilizer after spring growth begins, just like in the first year. Apply once annually after 2 years.

Pruning: Balanced pruning maintains the vine’s form, size, vigor, and next season’s fruiting wood. Pruning should be done when the vines are dormant in late winter or early spring. Do not prune when vines could freeze, because the new growth can be brittle and can damage easily. Foliage around the grape clusters can be removed to expose the fruit to sunlight in a short growing season. During your first growing season multiple shoots will begin to grow and the vine may become bushy. Some trim their plants back to just one or two shoots. Others prefer to let them grow so they may have a better selection to choose from during the following winter’s pruning.

Harvesting: Taste is the best determining factor if it’s time to harvest or not. When fruit appears. Test its ripeness by picking a few grapes from different areas and tasting them. If the grapes are sweet, start picking as they ready for harvesting.