Vitis 'SUFFOLK RED'

Suffolk Red is a seedless grape vine variety from Geneva, NY. It produces long but loose clusters with medium sized, light purple pink berries with no seeds. They are mild in flavour, very sweet, crispy, and juicy. The skin is soft. Suffolk Red is a great table wine eaten fresh picked right off the vine, or it can be stored for some time.

Grape vine has to be pruned every year in warmer days of January or at the end of winter after the danger of the worst frosts. Cut back side branches to 2-3 buds since 2-years-old wood bears fruit. Treat it against mite before buds open. When it sets fruit cut off the new shoots a few centimeters above the grape and do not let it grow again. From midsummer you can start removing leaves from above the grapes to allow direct sunlight. Get some wasp-trap as they could ruin your crop.

Grow grape vine in sunny and airy (not windy) locations. It is not suitable for damp sites and shady pergolas where it can easily be affected by diseases. Provide a good support. The best results are on slopes – because of the angle of sun rays. Suffolk Red is very vigorous and is best grown in heavier soil. Extra watering is desired by end spring and later only if the summer is dry, and always directly in the soil, never water the whole plant. In autumn remove fallen leaves from under the plants as they might contain diseases and mites. Fertilizing is good if adequate, otherwise the plant will grow wild and set too much fruit of inferior quality. Hardy to min. -24°C.

Last update 25-02-2014.