'Red Flame' grape vine... coming from roots .... is it grafted?

10 years ago

I am determined to get a 'Red Flame' grape to grow here: 5200 ft. zone 7; grows well in zone 6 here. But have had three failures! The first was a nice vine that got hit with a hard unusualy late frost right after I had planted it ..... dead! I bought another ? 'Red Flame' from a local nursery that the second year bore BLUE Concord grapes!! Got a small refund x the nursery on another but larger $$ can of 'Red Flame' & it did OK the last year but no fruit yet but this spring we had some 19-20 degree late spring before anything began to grow; I waited & waited but no sign of any growth on the 'Red flame' yet the 'Concord' were leafing out by then. Now I find the top is dry/brittle/dead! but a big green shoot is coming up from the root area ... will this be a true 'Red Flame' or is it grafted & this shoot is from the graft? If so, then another failure & I may give up... but I hate to admit defeat!! Everyone says the 'Red Flame' grows here well so don't know why my usually 'green thumb' has failed me?!

Any ideas or help appreciated!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
10 years ago
I've never seen a grafted Red Flame. Highly likely it's true scion.

You may have the same issue we do. Excessively warm winter/spring days push growth too soon and the new shoots get whacked. Mine I didn't protect got frozen back three times this spring, usually just once, and now those plants may be dead. But they were fine until they started to grow, no winter die back.

The grapes I protected from 24F May 3rd mostly look very good. One may have taken damage to the unprotected trunk. It has been wilting but should heal I think with probable loss of fruit.
vieja_gw
Original Author
10 years ago
fruitnut:
Good to hear that the 'Red Flame' may not be grafted & the huge green shoot that just appeared from ground level may truly be the 'Red Flame'!! Will let it grow to see what the leaves look like & will be sure & protect it this winter & next spring until I determine if it is or is not the 'Flame'! The "Flame' from last year that grew so well & was trailing over some trellis, had long vines.of healthy leaves .... and all were dry/ dead this spring!

We have some very old (more than 45 years old) 'Concord' seed grape vines that have withstood minus 19 degrees here in the 70's & bear heavily of those delicious old flavor grapes! I planted a seedless 'Concord' last year too & am anxious to see how they compare to the seeded 'Concord' in flavor! Had to prune back both the fig & pomegranates too as they froze this last winter also so another year til they will hopefully bear again from the new growth now coming.
Related Discussions
why red flame grapes so small ...?
Q
Comments (6)
Hi! I am hoping that someone can help me!! I planted Thompson Seedless, Red Flame and Cabernet Vines on an east & north facing wall. I have them tied to a cedar split rail fence to keep the heat from radiating and trying the vines and for air circulation. Up until the 110 degree temps they have been flourishing. Now I have no new growth, the grapes have not grown larger and are actually shrinking. My leaves are turning yellow and drying. I inspected the leaves & found no bugs. We water in the morning and keep the soil damp in hot weather. My Thompson seem the less vigorous, the Cabernet are actually the more successful, then the Red Flame. I would like to ask what is the proper watering schedule for Casa Grande AZ zone 4? Also, I am wondering if I should be mulching the roots to keep them cooler?
...See More
Oh no!! :Red Flame grape leaves sick...?
Q
Comments (1)
My Flame outdoors, and in, look fine except where the leaf hoppers have built up. I haven't heard of rust on grapes even with rain. Could it be that your soil is too wet too long? Any possibility it's powdery mildew? Could you post a picture?
...See More
Red Flame grape problem, Help!
Q
Comments (3)
Hi Wes, I do not have an answer for you, but you should try over on the Fruit forum. There is also a Winery forum (forget the name). Those people will probably be able to answer your questions. Renee Here is a link that might be useful: Fruit Forum
...See More
Flame Seedless Grape for zone 10?!
Q
Comments (3)
The only ones I've been able to find that are somewhat recommended for Florida are: black spanish, lake emerald, southern home, and blanc du bois. The lake emerald was found at lowes, when they got their blueberry, blackberry, and grape plants in. The southern home was found at wally world of all places just a few days ago, which apparently come from the same nursery lowes got their blueberries from. So, check out both of those places, even home depot, for a few that may do ok in Florida. The blanc du bois and black spanish, I got from willis. These varieties are recommended usually as grafted plants, but willis sells own-root plants. If you're good at grafting, you could buy the own-root plants and graft them on better rootstock. I can tell you that the black spanish has the most vigorous and deep root system of all of the bunch grapes I've tried in Florida so far though. I know it's not flame seedless, but maybe it'll give you some other ideas.
...See More
fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
10 years ago
Flame has somewhat distinctive leaves. I'd bet a hundred bucks you've still got Flame.

Just checked my freeze damaged Summer Royal, 24F May 3, and the inch diameter trunk is dead. No green under the bark. But it does have strong growth from the base so I'll let that grow. Mine are all own rooted just like every grape I've ever grown.
vieja_gw
Original Author
10 years ago
Yes, the 'Red Flame' grape leaf is rather distinctive so will see what kind of leaf this shoot coming from the ground has. For sure this growth will be delicate this year so I will really insulate it this next winter. Thanks for some encouragement!
So many things that are grafted are not worth keeping if new growth from beneath the graft is the only growth. I just had to prune the fig & the pomegranates (ouch! the 'pomes are SO 'prickly!) way back almost to the ground where I see some green growth... but the whole tops are dead from last winter temps. Neither were grafted.
vieja_gw
Original Author
10 years ago
The green shoots from the ground are vigorous & growing up to where I now can train them on the wires & the old dead vine. They are so green & tender though so will have to really protect them this summer & next winter; hope I can get some grapes to form so I can tell if they really are the 'Red Flame'! I refuse to give up!
fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
10 years ago
I had four grapes froze back to the ground in May. They are sending up shoots from below ground. Just can't keep those grapes down.

The grapes that I protected from that freeze, 24F, suffered severe damage to the unprotected trunk. They are healing and growing slightly. Most of the berries aborted. All are sending up shoots from at or near ground level.
fabaceae_native
10 years ago
A related note:
Two of three 'Black Monukka' large vigorous vines I planted last year appear to be dead, while one is trying to put out a shoot, but is quite pitiful. All are in same south-facing area where my 'Flame' has done well for several years.

'Black Monukka' supposed to be hardiest European table grape, but I don't believe this anymore. So far 'Reliance' hands down appears to be the best for here, precocious and productive as well. I don't think I'll try any other European table grapes in my climate.
vieja_gw
Original Author
10 years ago
The new growth from the roots is SO vigorous this year & I am kept busy trying to train all the new vines. Am so happy with the growth since the main vine froze to the ground last winter & sure hope these new shoots from the root/ground are still 'Red Flame'! Am hoping I could get a few grapes this year to really verify they are 'Red Flame' but will have to cover the whole new growth this Fall so it doesn't freeze again next winter!