Culture
Best grown in deep, loamy, humus-rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. The more sun the sweeter the fruit. 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. Young growth may be damaged in spring by late frosts. This grape is self-pollinating. For quality fruit production, it needs a support system, training, regular spraying and regular pruning to maximize fruit production. It can withstand the somewhat severe weather conditions in parts of the Eastern and Midwestern United States (cold winters followed by hot and humid summers) better than many other types of grapes. Spreads by self-seeding. A number of wild animals and birds eat the fruits and help distribute the seeds to new locations.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Vitis labrusca, commonly known as fox grape, is a woody, deciduous vine that climbs by tendrils to 40’ long. It is native to woodlands and forest margins in eastern North America from Nova Scotia to Ontario south to Louisiana and Florida. It can climb to the tops of tall trees or sprawl horizontally over low-growing shrubs. Rough bark on mature trunks and stems shreds in strips. Bold-textured, oval-cordate, deep green leaves (each to 4-6” long) have appressed whitish to rusty brown woolly hairs on the undersides. Leaves vary in shape but typically have 3 palmate lobes. Each stem has one leaf per node, with tendrils or flowers located across from each leaf. Yellowish-green flowers (1/8” across) borne in compound racemes bloom in June on short, umbelliferous branches. Flowers have a sweet musky fragrance. Flowers give way to drooping clusters (to 8” long) of medium-sized, blue-black, edible grapes (each to 3/4” diameter) which ripen to dark purple in late mid-season. Grapes of this species are noted for having slipskins (skin easily slips off when a grape is squeezed) and a foxy smell and flavor (sweet earthy muskiness) as suggested by the common name of fox grape.
The genus name Vitis is the Latin name for the old-world vineyard grape (Vitis vinifera).
‘Reliance’ is a seedless V. labrusca American grape hybrid variety (V. ‘Ontario’ x V. ‘Suffolk Red’) that was developed at the University of Arkansas in 1965. It is noted for its (a) early maturing fruit, (b) mild, sweet, fruity flavor and (c) winter hardiness. It is a woody, deciduous, tendril-climbing vine that typically grows 15-20’ long unless pruned shorter. Panicles of fragrant, greenish flowers in spring are followed by clusters of medium-sized, pinkish-red, seedless grapes that ripen in early mid-season. Considered to be a good grape for juices, jams, jellies and raisins. Large, shallowly-three-lobed, green foliage. Flowers are attractive to bees. Ripe fruit is attractive to birds, mammals and some hornets and wasps. US patent number PP5174 applies to this cultivar.
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.
‘Reliance’ reportedly has good resistance to anthracnose, downy mildew and powdery mildew.
Uses
Grapes are primarily grown for fruit production in home fruit gardens where ornamental interest 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.