{"product_id":"itasca-grape","title":"Itasca Grape","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Newest Cold-Hardy White Wine Grape from the U of MN\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eItasca Grape (\u003cem\u003eVitis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Itasca') is the University of Minnesota's flagship white wine grape — bred for naturally lower acidity and higher sugar than older cold-hardy whites, producing refined, crisp wines with pear, melon, and floral notes. It carries the program's signature hardiness (to roughly -30°F), good disease resistance, and self-fertility, needing only full sun and a sturdy trellis. Whether you're starting a backyard vineyard in Edina, covering an arbor in Maple Grove, or refining your home winemaking in Woodbury — Itasca is a premium choice for zone 4b–5a (and colder) gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eItasca Grape Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eVitis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Itasca' (U of MN)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous fruiting vine (wine grape)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–20+ feet on a trellis; train to your system\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (8+ hours) for ripening and sugar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate while establishing; fairly drought-tolerant once rooted\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a); hardy to about -30°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWell-draining; tolerates a range of soils. Avoid wet, low spots; good air drainage reduces disease.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePollination\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-fertile — a single vine will fruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUse\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDry white wine; lower acid, higher sugar, with pear and melon notes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEarly to mid-September in the Twin Cities\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExcellent — to roughly -30°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eItasca Grape Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePremium backyard vineyard\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eItasca's balanced chemistry makes it the go-to for serious cold-climate dry whites. Train it on a two-wire trellis in full sun in a Plymouth yard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eArbors and screens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVigorous enough to cover an arbor or pergola for summer shade and a fall harvest in Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDry white wine\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts lower acidity needs less correction in the cellar, making clean, food-friendly whites prized by home and craft winemakers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Itasca Grape in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in spring (late April–May) after hard frost so the vine has a full season to establish. Fall planting is not recommended for grapes here. Never plant after mid-October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Itasca Grape\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose the sunniest, best-drained spot — a south or west slope is ideal for ripening and air drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInstall the trellis before or at planting; grapes need sturdy support from year one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig a hole 2–3× the root width; backfill with native soil and some compost. Don't over-fertilize.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace vines 6–8 feet apart along the trellis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater in well and mulch lightly, keeping mulch off the trunk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe first two years, train a single strong trunk and remove fruit so the vine builds structure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Itasca Grape in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 4–5 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Weekly; deep but infrequent watering encourages deep roots\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished vines are fairly drought-tolerant; water only during extended dry spells. Avoid a constantly wet root zone, which invites disease.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat makes Itasca special?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's the U of MN's first cold-hardy grape bred specifically for dry white wine, with naturally low acid and high sugar that simplify winemaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen and how do I prune it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrune in late winter while dormant, removing about 80–90% of last year's growth. Grapes fruit on new shoots from one-year-old wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — to about -30°F. No burial needed; site it for good air drainage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLa Crescent Grape — an aromatic, very hardy white\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrontenac Gris Grape — a white with peach and apricot notes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarquette Grape — a complex hardy red companion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#1\/7\" Pot","offer_id":54312912257329,"sku":null,"price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/itasca-grape.jpg?v=1779557843","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/itasca-grape","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}