Vitis ‘Swenson Red’

An exceptionally frost hardy and strong growing cultivar yielding tasty, red-pink fruit. Plentiful and easy to grow.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: Medium-sized, round, purple-pink fruit of vinegary-sweet taste with raspberry and strawberry flavour; ripening in the second half IX. Medium-sized bunches. Leaves decorative, large, dark green; turn yellow in autumn. Flowers unassuming, yellow, opening in VI.

HOW IT GROWS: A climber using tendrils for support. Strong-growing, reaches 10 m – 2 m per year.

WHERE TO PLANT: A sunny and warm site required. Soil should be humus-rich, rather fertile, moderately moist of neutral or slightly acidic pH. Mealworm beetle resistant. Hardy (zone 5–9).

HOW TO PLANT AND MAINTAIN: Before planting immerse the plant container in water for 10-30 min.  Place the root ball in a 40 x 40 x 40 cm hole with a 10 cm layer of well-rotten manure or compost, 0.5-1 cm deeper than it was before. Fill the hole with fertile soil. The plants should be spaced at least 30 cm from other plants or from a wall. Prune moderately. To encourage high quality yield, the yearly pruning should be performed (usually in winter, around the second half of February). Frost insulation recommended for ground-grown plants.

HOW TO APPLY: Suitable for amateur cultivation, recommended for training along large garden constructions eg. arbours and pergolas.

ORIGIN: U.S.A. Raised by Elmer Swenson.