{"product_id":"itasca-grape-bundle-of-2","title":"Itasca Grape (Bundle of 2)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Itasca Grape is a grape vine rated hardy to zone 3b in our ratings (winters to -35°F), self-fertile, so one plant can crop, and it ripens about Sep 22 to Oct 1 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 3 only (winters to -35°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring to early summer here. Itasca sets fruit on its own, so one variety is enough. Grapes bloom in June, well after tree fruit. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/grape-pollination-chart\"\u003eGrape Pollination Chart\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Sep 22 to Oct 1 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWine (8\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"84\" data-end=\"98\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"99\" data-end=\"311\"\u003eThe newest grape from the University of Minnesota’s breeding program, Itasca has proven itself to be one of the most cold-hardy grapes out there—even surpassing Frontenac and Marquette in terms of cold tolerance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"313\" data-end=\"351\"\u003eAromatics \u0026amp; Winemaking Potential\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"615\"\u003eWith aromas of apple, pear, and violet and naturally lower acidity, this variety is especially well suited for dry white wines and sparkling wines. That said, some very nice off-dry wines have also been produced from Itasca, showing its versatility in the winery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"617\" data-end=\"660\"\u003eEarly Ripening \u0026amp; Excellent Production\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"661\" data-end=\"918\"\u003eItasca is a very productive grape that ripens early, reaching brix levels in the mid-20s and a moderate acidity around 10 g\/L. It’s self-pollinating and suitable for most of Montana, and if you’ve got the right site, it could even be worth trying in Zone 3.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"920\" data-end=\"952\"\u003eResilient in Harsh Winters\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"953\" data-end=\"1237\"\u003eIf you regularly see temps below -30°F in the winter, it’s been our experience—and the experience of many others planting Itasca (and Marquette, among others)—that the tops may die back the first few winters, but the vines will consistently come up from the base the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1239\" data-end=\"1525\"\u003eThis is totally fine because these vines are from rooted cuttings, not grafts, so what grows back will still be 100% Itasca. While it might set the grape back a bit at first, after a couple of years the vine typically becomes strong enough to withstand deeper frosts without dying back. But there likely will be a limit for the whole plant, which may be around -40F (although we're unsure of the precise number that extreme cold would kill the whole plant).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1527\" data-end=\"1543\"\u003ePlant Size\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1544\" data-end=\"1619\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eThese are vines going on their second year with an established root system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Itasca Grape\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Itasca Grape need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Itasca Grape is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Itasca sets fruit on its own, so one variety is enough. Grapes bloom in June, well after tree fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Itasca Grape?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Itasca Grape hardy to zone 3b, which means winters down to about -35°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Itasca Grape ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 22 to Oct 1 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Itasca Grape good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Itasca Grape are wine (8\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Itasca Grape?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Itasca Grape with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Itasca Grape ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42472437416002,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/itasca-grape-on-vine.webp?v=1789020384","url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/products\/itasca-grape-bundle-of-2","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}