I have two grape vines about 4 years old one Valiant and one Beta. The Beta has produced for two years now. The Valiant grows great produces flowers then they all dry off. Anyone know is it a all male plant? It is about 6 feet from the Beta both grow well. Some say there is not such a thing as an all male plant?? This one seems to be should I take it out.
There are male plants, but Valiant is not one of them. Valiant is self fertile so there must be some other explanation of the early berry drop. The most common reason is poor pollenation, often caused by environmental factors (wind, rain), but it seems odd that the Beta is not affected unless it is blooming at a different time. Excess nitrogen can increase shatter (berry drop) so make sure the family dog isn't using it as a toilet! Ralph
Thanks but no family dog or other pet using it as a toilet. As for poor pollenation I believe both the Beta and Valiant bloomed close to the same time. Even if they did not they should do fine on their own if I am not mistaken right? The blooms really don't even look like they make berries just bloom out then dry up and that is it! Help I am frustrated with this plant.
Check this information: http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/faculty/reisch/breeding/crossing1.html The three pictures on the right just down from the beginning of the document show the three possibilities for flowers: male, female and hermaphroditic or perfect (which is what you want). Keep in mind that these blossoms are typically only 1-2mm across. The differences between female (which would require a male pollinator) and perfect can be quite subtle, making it hard to distinguish one from the other. If you were in a more moderate climate, and your patience with this plant is exhausted, I would suggest cutting and top working (grafting) a new Valiant or other variety onto the old roots, but I think your winters make that approach unlikely to succeed for long. Ralph
Thank you Ralph, I think I will give it some TLC this summer with water and fertilizer and give it one more year. Next year if it doesn't produce then I am afraid it will come out!! Thanks so much for your help.
Howdy Mopeede, Which part of Alberta are you in? I am in Brooks but have Valiant, Beta, Kay Gray, Eona and Concord in Edmonton (my son lives in the house now). All fruited well but I took out the Concord long ago as it never ripen a crop. Eona and Beta will be on the way too as their berries seldom ripen. Valiant has produced and ripen a crop every year. Another thing I learn is not to trust the labels. I have bought plants that aren't what they are supposed to be. Peace Thean
Thanks Thean, To be honest I really question if this is a Valiant and now you make me wonder the same. I wonder if they labeled it wrong. We live in Three Hills and our Beta did ripen last year and this year is loaded. Maybe you are right I should take out what they have labeled as a Valiant and put a new one in. I just wonder if you can tell by the leaf shape as these two are different leaves.
Howdy Mopeede, You are not far from Brooks. Last year I had a fair crop of Valiant from my 3 year old vine. A friend further down the road had enough to make a fair batch of wine. Another friend is even closer to you, just two towns north of Three Hill, Elnora. She never fail to harvest a good crop each year. This year my vine was loaded but that hail on 29 June, left me with completely naked vines; even the bark on the west side was completely stripped off. Talking about male flowers, I remember the first vine I bought about 20 years ago. It was a Native riverbank grapes. After producing nothing but male flowers for three consecutive years, I janked it out. I cannot tell the difference between Beta and Valiant leaves although Beta's tend to be bigger and thicker (all relative). However the berries of Valiant are borne in shorter and much tighter clusters. Hope this helps. Peace Thean
Thanks so much for your help. I think I will dig out this one that is just producing flowers each year. Thanks again. Mopeede
