One of our favourites! The Somerset is a seedless grape with a deliciously sweet strawberry-like flavour. These mauve coloured grapes are tasty for fresh eating and great for juicing. The vines are medium growth in vigour and produce grapes on large clusters.
The Somerset grapes are small to medium in size and average 1.5 to 2 grams in weight. They ripen around early to middle of September, even sooner in some years. Vines begin to produce around three years of age. Developed by Elmer Swenson in Osceola, Wisconsin.
Growers Note: Lay the vines down on the ground in autumn before snowfall. Then cover with leaves and eventually snow as this provides insulation. This is a successful and recommended technique for cold-climate grape growing to protect vines from extreme cold. Grapes grow very vigorously on a warm south-facing side of a building and sheltered area.
Hardiness Zone: 3b
Height at Maturity: 1 meter (3 feet)
Spread: 2 meter (6 feet)
Soil Preference: Well drained
Light Exposure: Full sun
Pollination: Self-fertile
Latin Name: Vitis ‘Somerset’