{"product_id":"st-croix-grape","title":"St. Croix Grape","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Very Hardy, Low-Maintenance Red Grape for Wine and the Table\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSt. Croix Grape (\u003cem\u003eVitis\u003c\/em\u003e 'St. Croix') is a rugged, productive blue-red grape developed by pioneering breeder Elmer Swenson — hardy to roughly -30°F, low in acid, and easygoing enough for first-time growers. It makes soft, fruity red wines and is also pleasant for fresh eating and juice. Vigorous and disease-tolerant, it's self-fertile and needs only full sun and a sturdy trellis. Whether you're starting a backyard vineyard in Edina, covering an arbor in Maple Grove, or growing easy grapes in Woodbury — St. Croix thrives in zone 4b–5a (and colder) gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSt. Croix 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 'St. Croix'\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 \u0026amp; table 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\u003eSoft, fruity red wine; also good for fresh eating and juice\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLate August to early September in the Twin Cities; ripens early\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\u003eSt. Croix Grape Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEasy backyard vineyard\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts low acidity and forgiving nature make St. Croix a great first grape. 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 plus a fall harvest in Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWine, juice, and fresh eating\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt makes soft, approachable reds and is also enjoyable off the vine and as juice — a versatile family grape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant St. Croix 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 St. Croix 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 St. Croix 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\u003eIs St. Croix good for beginners?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it's low-acid, disease-tolerant, and forgiving, making it one of the easiest hardy grapes to grow and vinify.\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\u003eFrontenac Grape — a bolder, very hardy red\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarquette Grape — a complex, structured hardy red\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLa Crescent Grape — an aromatic hardy white\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#1\/7\" Pot","offer_id":54312933392689,"sku":null,"price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/st-croix-grape.jpg?v=1779557842","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/st-croix-grape","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}