Grapes to Grow in Florida

Grapes Used in Viticulture

• Thanks to their resistance to fungal and bacterial diseases, hybrid and Muscadine grapes do well in Florida's climate. For wine making, the hybrid strains include the light-green grapes Suwanee, Stover, Emerald, and Blanc du Bois, used in making white wines. Red wines are derived from the purple Black Spanish and Conquistador varieties. Muscadine grapes suitable to Florida include the reds Noble and Carlos, the bronze Welder variety, and the white Magnolia.

Dooryard, Juice and Jelly Grapes

• Conjuring an image of compact gardens close to a home's backyard door, or trained onto arbors, dooryard grape varieties include the purple Blue Lake and Conquistador, the red Daytona strain, and the Stover and Suwanee hybrids. It is also possible to choose grapes to produce juices and jellies. For either squeezing or for home canning, the varieties Blue Lake, Conquistador, Lake Emerald and Suwanee are all recommended.

Fresh Market and Pick-Your-Own Grapes

• A grower might choose to set up an arrangement with local fresh markets to vend the grapes from his vines, or the vineyards could be opened to the general public on a seasonal "pick-your-own" basis. In both endeavors, commercial considerations and business licenses would have to be addressed and secured. Since sturdy grapes able to withstand much handling would be desired, varieties conducive to accomplishment in these commercial plans would include Conquistador, Stover and Suwanee.

Diseases

• The most common disease known to have attacked grape vines in Florida is Pierce's disease, spread by leaf hopper insects who spread the "Xylella fastidiosa" bacterium from plant to plant. The grape varieties mentioned above have all been selected by growers due to their resistance to this disease. Some strains such as Stover and Conquistador will have been grafted onto Pierce's-resistant root stocks such as Tampa or Dog Ridge. Grape vines also need to be regularly treated with insecticides and fungicides to prevent drastic loss of the fruit.