Seyval Blanc

Seyval Blanc

I’m not too going to lie, Seyval Blanc and I used to not get along too well.   Seyval reminded me of someone with so much potential but just didn’t put the work in.  Don’t want to pick up after yourself? Don’t worry Seyval, I’ve got it.   Want to sit around all day and play games and not do your homework?  Don’t worry Seyval, I will do it for you.

After a few rough winters, I was almost ready to pull out all my Seyval Blanc grapes.  One issue with Seyval is that it isn’t too hardy even for a grape that is commonly grown in northern climates. I’ve known people that have pruned them in the heart of winter which resulted in many vines dying for the next growing year.  Generally a rule of thumb in Canada is not to prune vines until after the cold snap but, this is especially true for Seyval Blanc.

Even through the tough times, I stuck with Seyval.  I might have not been getting as much crop as the other varieties but, boy the quality was fantastic.  The berries would taste like candy at harvest time and I knew it was something that I wanted to grow. 
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They are mildew prone, so this is something to take in consideration.  You need to be perfect with your weed control to allow for maximum air flow around the vine.  This will do a good part in keeping the vines healthy.   Seyval is very easy to prune given its low figure, everything grows straight up which is exactly what you want with a grape vine. 
Overall, Seyval may be a grape vine that takes a while to learn how to grow but, when you do, you will be happy with the results.