Grape culture—Part I

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 7

Grape culture—Part I

GARDENING

&y

M. Lusty

There are several old tales associated with the successful raising of certain fruits and vegetables but, sad to relate, most of them are myths which have somehow survived the years — possibly on chance coincidences. One of them concerns the story of burying a dead sheep before planting a grape vine, a practice which could in fact do more harm than good. Grapes are a very papular fruit in the home garden and surprisingly good yields have been forthcoming from many of these outdoor as well as indoor-raised vines. Probably the most widely grown outdoor grape in this country is Albany Surprise. This grape originated from a bud sport of the variety Isabella which was growing in a vineyard just north of Auckland and got its name from the district in which it was raised and perpetuated about 85 years ago.

This black grape requires a long growing season to achieve real sweetness as its sugar content

is otherwise fairly low and has a distinctive flavour which is not to everyone’s liking; it can be used both for dessert and wine-making. Although a lot of varietal trials have been made and are still in progress to find the mast suitable grapes for New Zealand conditions these have centred almost exclusively on varieties for wine-making.

Interest has, however, been sufficient to test alternatives to Albany Surprise and a few recommmendations can be made. The following grapes have done well in the open and are worth considering Iona: This is a white grape of similar vigour to Albany Surprise and equally distinctively fla-

voured, ripening about one month before the latter; the fruit is also smaller. The plant is fairly hardy and shows resistance to disease although fruit is susceptible to damage in wet weather. Rose Chasselas, a pink grape of predominantly dessert category which ripens about the same time as lona. This grape has a large berry and good flavour. Growth is fairly vigorous and fruit will tolerate wet weather. Schuyler is a biack

grape of earlier fruiting than all the varieties mentioned, with a good flavour and capability to stand up to wet weather.

Other varieties for consideration include Seibel--4986 and 6980, two early white hybrids of medium vigour which are capable of producing a small crop after a late frost; Pirovana 15, an early black dessert grape; and Queen of the Vineyard, an amber-col-oured grape which Would suit glasshouse culture because of its earliness.