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MARQUETTE -- A hardy Midwest grape vine is now available!  Of all things, it is aptly named the Marquette Grape.  The University of Minnesota Botanical Dept. had studied viticulture and experimented on a red grape variety from a cross made in 1989.

In 2006, the new Marquette Grape was introduced.  It is cold hardy (tested to -36), disease resistant, and has a sweet Pinot Noir-like taste.  I have noticed that many U.P gardeners have grape arbors and grow the hardy “Concord” grape.  The Concord does well up north also.  I recommend trying the Marquette Grape.  Gardeners will now find many vine starts available at local greenhouses at a cost of $17.99 per start.

My husband Mark and I bought three starts in 2008 and planted them in full sun.  We used a homebuilt trellis with horizontal wire for the young plants to climb, and climb they did!  We eagerly await another projected September ripening.

Additional information:  If you decide to add the Marquette grapevine to your garden plan, plant them in full sunlight because they will need high temperatures to ripen.  If possible, plant the vine on a southern slope that has a wind break.  The vines need well drained soil (sandy soil mix is okay).  Plant each plant six to eight feet apart.  If you plant now, remove all cane stems except the most vigorous ones (at least two, but three is better).  Gardeners may enjoy ripe grapes this season, but if not, next year for sure.  Here’s a toast to the new Marquette Grape:  “Whether it be a vintage 2010 or ’11, may you enjoy good health”.

The U.P. Connection:  I think it would be grand for all Yooper gardeners to try and grow the Marquette Grape.  After all, we have a center city with the same name!  Perhaps U.P. gardeners could group report our findings to the Botanical Dept. of the University of Minnesota in a few years.

The Marquette Grapevine is available now at Meister’s in Harvey.