Growing Grapes In Montana: The Impossible Is Now (Sometimes) Possible
 | Author:
Allison Kosto, MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent |
Besides a few select pockets, growing grapes in Montana was once something of a fairytale. Many tried but few were successful. Growing grapes in Montana is still challenging, but thanks to advancing research, new varieties and changing climates, it is now more attainable. There are regions of the state where growing grapes is still a bit of a challenge (we happen to live in one), but there are a few tips and tricks to help you be successful.
The first step is choosing the right variety. There are thousands of varieties of grapes, but only a select few grow well in Montana. Traditional European grape varieties require more days of warm weather than feasible in Montana. Cornell University and the University of Minnesota have developed cold-hardy grape varieties through their research programs. These varieties are hybrids that can be grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 6. They were created by crossing French wine grapes (hardy to -5 F) with American native grapes.
Montana State University has done research at five sites across the state with twelve different cold-hardy varieties. This provided excellent data for grapes that can be more successful in Montana. The study has found ‘Frontenacs’ to be the best-suited red wine grape for Montana. The most popular red wine grape currently planted in Montana is ‘Marquette’ which also did well in the trial but experienced higher winterkill. ‘Marchal Foch’ and ‘Petite Pearl’ are other popular varieties that performed well in the trial.
‘La Crescent’ is the best white wine grape from the research study. ‘St. Croix’ and ‘Prairie Star’ are popular white wine grapes in Montana that did well in the trial. ‘Bluebell’ and ‘Somerset’ were the favorite table grapes .Although not in the study, another good option as a starter grape is ‘Riverbank’ which is best suited for jam or juice.
A critical step for successfully growing grapes is choosing the right location. Grapes prefer soil with a pH below 7.0.Broadwater County has alkaline soil, usually around 8.0.Have your soil tested before planting grapes. It’s difficult to make a big change in soil pH, but there are a few techniques to bring your pH down a few decimal points.
Avoid frost pockets. South or southwest slopes are best. Broadwater County gets its fair share of wind, so choose a sheltered location out of the wind as much as possible. Grapes prefer well-drained sandy or gravelly soils.
Once you choose your site, there is quite a bit of site preparation work to do. You need to make sure the area is weed free. Grapes are extremely sensitive to herbicides, so take care of this beforehand. Using mulch or keeping the ground tilled underneath the vines for at least three years is recommended to avoid using herbicides and to allow the grapes to establish.
Do your research beforehand and take the time to build the trellis correctly. There are some very specific designs to allow the heavy foliage to correctly shade the grapes during development and avoid “sunburn” from direct sunlight.
The goal for the first three years is to make sure the plants become well established. Watering is very important. For two and three-year-old vines, it is recommended to harvest a few immature clusters of grapes soon after flowering. Research shows this improves winter hardiness by allowing the vines to enter dormancy earlier. If the fruit stays on the vines, they will grow longer to ripen the fruit and are more likely to experience frost and winter damage. If all goes well after three years, hopefully, you can start enjoying the fruits of your labor!
H. Fred Dale might have said it best, “My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant’s point of view.”This could not be any truer than with grapes in Montana as they can be temperamental. Through a little trial and error, it may be possible!
For more information about gardening, contact MSU Extension in Broadwater County at 406-266-9242 or allison.kosto@montana.edu.
