In a word, no. Flame Seedless is pure vinifera and in your climate it would be attacked by every grape disease, as well as phylloxera on the roots. Even if grafted to a resistant rootstock to prevent phylloxera (root louse), it would eventually succumb to disease. I wouldn't consider Flame in any climate other than a dry summer, west coast type climate. Technically, it WILL grow in a zone 9 climate, but only if that's a DRY zone 9.
-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.
On Mar 9, 2005, at 4:52 PM, Pete Benfield wrote:
Question for Lon
Do you think the "Flame" seedless grape will really make it in the South?
Think Stark's says it is good to zone 9. I am in MS zone 8.
Thanks
Pete in Poplarville, MS