Grapes/Edible Vines for Pergola

12 years ago

Hello all!

I am looking for grapes and edible vines to grow on two pergolas (a total of about 250 square feet of growing area)! Since the pergolas are in an area where people will be frequently I want to grow vines that will be relatively carefree in terms of diseases and insects. The pergolas get some morning sun and lots of afternoon sun.

I would prefer not having to spray and could bag grapes if necessary, however I would love to create a Mediterranean-esque space and it would be beautiful to have clusters of grapes hanging down (the pergolas are about 8.5 and 7.5 ft tall)! I would like at least one variety of blue grapes unless there is a huge advantage to growing green grapes (fewer issues with birds, etc).

I have been looking at Edible Landscaping's site for recommendations and so far the following varieties look the most promising (as far as varieties to eat out of hand):

- "America" (blue grape) - sounds like the most disease resistant

- "Kay Grey" (white grape)

- "Mortensen" (white grape)

- "Mars" (blue grape)

- "Concord" (blue grape) - sounds quite disease resistant

- Muscadines - (Ison's, Carlos, Sugargate)

I am really curious what varieties people have success with here! Suggestions for wine grapes are also invited (husband has an interest in wine-making)!

Finally, will muscadines overrun the "regular" grapes? Since I want at least one blue grape variety, I am afraid a neighboring muscadine could overtake the "regular" grapes.

Thanks in advance for your help! - Lind

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Comments (5)

theaceofspades
12 years ago
Kiwi makes a very ornamental Pergola vine, I have on on a trellis. No spraying and the leaves always look nice. You'll need to plant a male for pollination.

Niagra is a vigorous grower and will fill out a pergola fast.

Folks here like Jupiter grape(blue) because it is seedless and has a muscat flavor. I grow muscat Hamburg and NY Muscat, both seeded, tops in muscat flavor.
Scott F Smith
12 years ago
Lind, grapes often require a few sprays, in particular to deal with black rot and downy mildew. If you want to grow grapes without spraying you may want to stick to muscadines since they are more disease-resistant than regular grapes. Or look up a list of grape disease resistance (on e.g. Double A Vineyards, not Edible Landscaping where they don't know a whole lot about grapes). Look for ones with good downy and black rot resistance. My favorite highly disease-resistant grape is Steuben. Kiwis are also a good idea, I would recommend a Saanichton fuzzy kiwi plus a male. Most fuzzy kiwis require a longer season than we have. The hardy kiwis will grow well so that is another option.

Scott
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lindsgarden
Original Author
12 years ago
Scott, thanks for your input! Also, I have some follow up questions to your post:

- In your experience, can you get away with not spraying any "bunch-type" grapes like Steuben? I think I can deal with imperfect fruit for eating at home or can bag bunches. I'd just like to avoid having a grape vine that looks terrible because it is diseased.
- I looked up Steuben on Double A Vineyard's info sheet and it did not list fresh eating as a primary use, do you enjoy it eaten fresh?
- I have never tasted a muscadine grape, are they a fruit the general population tends to enjoy?
- Does the Saanichton fuzzy kiwi ripen in your area? For some reason, after visiting Edible Landscaping I was under the impression that they looked nice but never ripened enough to be tasty in this area.

Thanks!
Lind
austransplant
12 years ago
I'd put in my vote for Hardy Kiwi. They are a bit fiddly to get started, but after the third year they go gang busters and will easily cover your pergolas and set a lot of fruit. They face virtually no problems here in MD, but do need to be pruned heavily as once they get going they are extremely vigorous. You will also need a male and female plant.

A good way to get to taste some of these unusual fruits is to go to Edible Landscaping's open houses in spring and fall where they have samples available. Muscadines have a strong flavor, with a thick skin and seeds you need to spit out. They taste rather different from regular grapes. They are not readily available in stores.
Scott F Smith
12 years ago
Lind, I spray all of my grapes since I have a few disease-susceptible ones and while spraying I hit them all. I didn't have enough room so gave my Steuben to my neighbor a few years ago. Its only a couple feet from my property and it always looks fine even though they never spray it. So it will probably do OK. I think its an excellent eating grape with a unique spicy flavor, but it has seeds which is a big downside these days.

Most fuzzy kiwis don't ripen but Saanichton has been ripening well for me. I am trying several varieties of early ripening fuzzy kiwi to get the best one and Saanichton is the only one that has fruited. The hardy kiwis are also liked by many people but my kids won't eat them and they are my indicators of what average Americans like. I have some more hardy kiwi varieties ripening this year and maybe there will be one that my kids like. My kids do like muscadines, I was surprised. I had to pull mine up a few years ago to make room for another experiment I was doing but I plan on eventually putting some back in.

Scott