North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

Title: Re: [NAFEX] Bluebell: Not so great table grape.

It varies with variety. Some table grapes don't produce their biggest, nicest clusters until the vines start to mature well, such as 4 years or more.  The quality may vary a little, but that's usually because the grower hasn't gotten the hang of the vine and may be overcropping it a little, which reduces the fruit quality.   Bluebell is a lot like Concord in character, though it is sweeter and  (to me) has a more aromatic flavor that I would call better.   It is a little sensitive to soil pH and may be affected by slightly alkaline soil that wouldn't bother other American grapes.
> -Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com
Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003 



> At the below website it is stated that Bluebell is not great until 4th
> year. It is also described as a table grape. My question: Is this
> common for a (table) grape to not be "great" until it's 4th year, and
> what exactly does great mean? Great taste - great producer etc.... Now
> that hardy grapes exist it is more and more tempting to plant them.
>
> http://www.littlefatwino.com/bertslist.html
>
> BLUEBELL - Labrusca type table, hardy to -35F, ripens about Sept. 1st,
> juice, jelly, fresh market, not great until 4th year.
>
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