Culture
Best grown in deep, loamy, consistently moist, well-drained soils in full sun. In part shade, plants will produce flowers but will probably not produce fruit. Plants are intolerant of shade. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including average garden soils, but must have good drainage. Best sited in a location sheltered from winter winds (preferably a southern facing slope) and well removed from frost pockets. Self-pollinating. Grapes need a support system, training, regular spraying and regular pruning to maximize fruit production.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Vitis aestivalis, commonly called summer grape, is native to much of the Eastern and Midwestern United States where it grows in a variety of habitats including lowland and upland woods, tickets, hedges and fencerows, as well as stream and riverbanks. It is a woody, climbing, deciduous vine that climbs by tendrils to 35' tall or sprawls over low growing shrubs. Trunks of mature vines will grow over time to as much as 6" across with reddish-brown bark peeling in strips. Large green leaves (2-8" long) with toothed margins vary in shape from having only shallow lobes to being deeply 3-5 lobed with rounded sinuses. Cylindrical panicles of fragrant, yellowish-green flowers in late spring are followed by drooping clusters (3-8" long) of medium-sized, blue-black grapes (each from .2 to .5" diameter) that ripen in late mid-season. Flowers are attractive to bees. Ripe fruit often varies considerably in quality from dry and tart to juicy and sweet. Ripe fruit is attractive to birds, mammals and some hornets and wasps.
The genus name Vitis is the Latin name for the old-world vineyard grape (Vitis vinifera).
The specific epithet aestivalis means "pertaining to summer".
Problems
Grapes are high maintenance plants that require regular pruning, structural support, and pesticide treatments to produce significant yields. Grapes are susceptible to a large number of diseases, particularly in humid summer climates, including anthracnose, black rot, downy and powdery mildew, crown gall and botrytis bunch rot. Insect pests include phylloxera, grape berry moth, Japanese beetle, leaf hopper, leaf roller, mealy bugs and flea beetles. Birds are perhaps the most damaging vertebrate pest to grape yields, but deer can also eat young shoots, leaves, and fruit clusters.
Uses
Grapes may be grown for fruit production in home fruit gardens where ornamental value is not a main concern. However, grapes do in fact have good ornamental value: bold summer foliage, some fall color, showy fruit and shaggy, twisted trunks and branching often best seen in winter. When grown on fences, walls, trellises, arbors or other structures, grapes can be quite attractive year-round and can provide good cover, screening, or shade to areas around the home. Woody vines can be woven into decorative wreaths.