Good day, over the years forum member have sent me grape cuttings. I was able to get a few grape cuttings to root a year ago, but no grapes yet worth eating. At Lowes today, I saw a grape I never heard of before. It's called Lake Emerald Grape. I came home today and googled it and found this:

http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/grapes/cultivarbulletins/Lake%20Emerald%20circularS-68%201954.pdf

Great document! Based on the circular this grape is truly best for the Southeast. Based on the circular, I bought 2 from Lowes. If anyone has this grape, can you comment on it? What do you think of it? How sweet is it compared to other grapes?

I got this grape seeking a sweet fresh eating grape, not a wine grape.

Comments?

Dennis, grapes won't give you really good grapes for about 4 years.  The best thing to do is plant them, train them how you wish, and let them get a ton of canopy.  The Canopy feeds the roots and helps them get a good start.  Then prune them.  Again let them grow.  Pick off the baby clusters.  The plant is too young for fruit.  After 3 years, you can probably get some good fruit.  Remember fruit only grows on last years canes, so you need to leave 4 or 5 buds when you prune on each cane to produce fruit.  Inside each bud is a new cane and fruit clusters.  You tube has tons of videos on pruning grapes for fruit production.

We have chain link around this property, and I might plant some eating grapes on the fence for fun!

Suzi

I presume this variety should be spur pruned?

Any pierces disease where you live?  I know pierces is in NC but if you live in the middle of the state or west of middle you should be ok.

Nope.  And according to the writeup, this variety is immune to that disease.

Dennis, sounds like you've got a winner. I like the article a it gave yet another way to trellis them.  I am figuring out the grapes also. I have a few from cuttings I rooted 2 years ago, so I should get something out of them this year.  some store bought and cuttings I get in the neighbourhood. I also have a triple cutie that I started from seeds of a huge red globe.. it will be interesting to see if they grow to produce also... good luck with yours, and when you trim, I would like to put an order of a cutting.

Dennis,

That is an OLD article, 1954?  There have been a LOT of improvements since then.....Blanc Du Bois or Victoria red are ok but I was disappointed in the taste.  Then I happened to luck in to an AWESOME tasting table bunch grape that produces a huge volume of fruit that is great for wine and fresh use and is Pierce proof. It is the best grape I have ever tasted.  In the first year in ground the vine got to the top wire AND grew 20 foot arms in both directions so a 40' spread.  Second year so first fruiting year it produced over 100 pounds of fruit.  My muscadines while they did ok they did not produce nearly as much.  This guy was not even planted on a trellis just on the deer fence at the front of my property.  The grapes are red when ripe but can't seem to find that picture.

WillsC, that's a nice set-up you have there.