Newbies: Issai Kiwi and Valiant Grape
Posted by Sarah O. on June 16, 2009
I got a couple of new vines this week – an Issai Kiwi and a Valiant Grape.
Issai Kiwi
The Issai Kiwi doen’t require a male kiwi vine for pollination, although I’ve heard that it will produce more fruit, which is larger if it does have a male plant nearby.
The Issai can also produce fruit earlier than most other kiwi’s, which can take up to 4 years to get established and produce fruit.
This is a hardy kiwi, and it’s supposed to be smaller, and less fuzzy than store bought kiwi’s.
Supposedly you can eat them right from the vine.
There are a few fruits on our vine, so hopefully we’ll get to taste one this year.
Since I am in zone 3-4 the tag said to plant it in a confined space.
Hopefully it will do ok, I’ve been looking for a kiwi for awhile.
Valiant Grape
I’ve been toying with the ideas of a grape, but with the way I’ve been feeling lately I wasn’t too sure about burying the grape vines, which I’ve heard that we should do here.
After seeing my Uncle’s grape vines, however, I wanted some grapes.
Plus we’re putting up a metal shed, and I wanted a vine to screen the shed a little, and what better way to do it than with edibiles?
After I did some research on the Valiant (which was of course, after I bought it – you can get enough information from the tag, right?) I read that they are hardy up to -70 and can survive in Canada without winter protection.
The valiant is a purple grape, and it’s supposed to be good for red wine, jelly, and eating fresh, which was the most important to me.
We ended up buying some black metal trellises for the grape and the kiwi.
I hope they will be strong enough to support the vines, if they aren’t I guess we’ll deal with that when the time comes.
If you have experience with growing either of these in MN or other Zone 3-4 or colder climates I’d love to hear about it.
I’d especially love to know what your kiwi’s or any kind of grapes or growing on.
Related Posts:
Issai Kiwi and Valiant Grape Updates
Avis said,
You know, I’ve heard a lot about the cold-weather grapes, but have never tasted a wine from them. I’ll have to seek one out.
Sarah O. said,
That sounds like fun – let me know what you think about it when you try one.
Morgan said,
My wife and I put two Valiant Grapes in our new yard six years ago only one survived the winter, but I replaced that the next spring and both have really done well since. We live in Regina, Saskatchewan Canada and the last two winters have been very brutal -40 for over a week last Feb. but they are doing great. Summer here can be very hot and dry, although not this year, and they have thrived. Last year we must have harvested 50 liters of grapes, about 15 some US gallons and made numerous jars of grape jelly. We left lots for the birds and they loved them but make quite a mess. We found that the berries are best left to pick after the first frost, much sweeter like Icewine I suppose! Have been ready about pruning and just started doing the last few years.
Sarah O. said,
Hi Morgan, thanks for sharing about your valiant grapes – 15 gallons is a lot!
Thanks for letting me know the birds make a mess with them, we’ll have to keep that in mind – along with waiting until the first frost to pick them.
How is the pruning working out?
Add A Comment