Niagara Grape
Vitis labrusca 'Niagara'
fruitNiagara is the classic American white slipskin grape, crossed in 1868 by Hoag and Clark in New York's Niagara County from Concord and Cassady, then introduced commercially in 1882. The pale green-to-golden clusters are bold and grapey, with the famously aromatic foxy flavor of Vitis labrusca that defines white grape juice in the US. Cold-hardy to minus 20F, Niagara is the white grape of choice for the upper Midwest and Northeast.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 5 days
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Harvest
~24 months
to first harvest
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
8 ft in row, 10 ft between rows
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Planting Depth
Same depth as nursery
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Soil pH
5.5-6.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Average, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 8
When to Fertilize
Early spring as buds swell
Fertilizer
10-10-10 at 2 oz per vine in year one; adjust by soil test thereafter
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant in full sun on deep well-drained loam, hardy in zones 5 to 8. Set vines 8 ft apart in rows 10 ft apart, with the crown at the same depth as the nursery. Train to a 2-wire trellis with the lower wire at 3 ft and the top wire at 5.5 to 6 ft. American grapes are less prone to fungal disease than viniferas; prune in late winter to 60 to 80 buds per vigorous mature vine for best balance between yield and quality.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Sep 12 · Year 3
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FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
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AAug
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OOct
NNov
DDec
Year 1
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Hyssop: Reputed to improve grape flavor and repel aphids around the vines
- Chives: Sulfur compounds may help suppress mildew at the trunk
- Yarrow: Hosts beneficial parasitoid wasps and hoverflies
- White Clover: Living mulch in the aisles, adding nitrogen and supporting bumblebees
❌ Keep away from
Cabbage
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Rake fallen leaves and remove mummies in fall, prune for an open canopy, and apply protective fungicide at bloom in wet years
Hand-pick adults into soapy water; never use pheromone traps which attract more beetles
Niagara is moderately susceptible; ensure full sun and good airflow, and use sulfur sprays in humid weather
Niagara is grafted on resistant rootstock by default; do not plant ungrafted vines in areas with known phylloxera
🌾 Harvest & storage
Niagara ripens in late summer to early fall, with clusters shifting from pale green to a glossy golden hue. Taste-test for ripeness; the sugar climbs in the last two weeks. Snip whole clusters with pruners. Niagara is best for fresh eating, juice, and jelly; the slipskin separates easily from the pulp when cooked.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
About 67 calories per 100 g with 0.9 g fiber, 4 mg vitamin C, and 191 mg potassium. The skins of American grapes are particularly rich in anthocyanins (in red varieties) and resveratrol.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.