Vitis aestivalis argentifolia
| Vitis aestivalis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 82' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Vitis aestivalis argentifolia (common name: summer grape)
Propagation: Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[K]. Six weeks cold stratification improves the germination rate, and so stored seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is obtained. Germination should take place in the first spring, but sometimes takes another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in early summer.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, December/January in a frame. These cuttings can be of wood 15 - 30cm long or they can be of short sections of the stem about 5cm long with just one bud at the top of the section. In this case a thin, narrow strip of the bark about 3cm long is removed from the bottom half of the side of the stem. This will encourage callusing and the formation of roots. Due to the size of these cuttings they need to be kept in a more protected environment than the longer cuttings.
Layering.
Cultivation: Prefers a deep rich moist well-drained moderately fertile loam[1][2]. Grows best in a calcareous soil[2]. Succeeds in sun or partial shade though a warm sunny position is required for the fruit to ripen[2].
Plants climb by means of tendrils[3].
The flowers are sweetly scented with the aroma of mignonette[4].
Any pruning should be carried out in winter when the plants are dormant otherwise they bleed profusely[3][2].
This sub-species has a more northerly and inland range than the type and might therefore be more suitable for fruit production in Britain (particularly the northern provenances).
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[2].
Range: Southern and Eastern N. America - Ontario to Alabama. Locally naturalized in Europe[5].
Habitat: Dry woods and thickets[6].
Edibility: Fruit - raw, cooked in jellies, jams, pies etc or dried for later use[1][7][8][9][10]. Sweet and agreeably flavoured[7][10]. The taste is best after a frost[11].The dried fruits are eaten as snacks or used in baked goods[10]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[2].
Leaves - cooked[12][13]. Young leaves are wrapped around other foods and then baked, they impart a pleasant flavour.
A sweet watery sap is obtained from the stem[11][10]. Used as a refreshing drink.
Young tendrils - raw or cooked[12][14][13].
Usage: A yellow dye is obtained from the fresh or dried leaves[15].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: V. argentifolia. Munson. V. bicolor. non Raf. V. lecontiana. House.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Douglas, James. Alternative Foods.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Turner, Nancy. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences, 1978.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Harris, Ben. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health, 1973.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 McPherson, Alan and Sue McPherson. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press, 1977.
- ↑ Harrington, Harold. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press, 1967.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.