Description
Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Bleu’ is a vigorous, fast-growing cultivar that typically produces large clusters of sweet, blue-black berries with a muscat-like aroma. The berries are medium to large in size and have a juicy, sweet flavor. They are typically harvested in late summer or early fall. The leaves are simple, lobed and dark green. The vine itself can grow quite large and need to be trained to grow properly on a trellis or arbor. ‘Muscat Bleu’ is known for its high sugar content and high acidity, making it a good choice for making sweet wines or table grapes, it is also a heavy producer, this cultivar can be quite vigorous and may require heavy pruning to control its size.
Key Facts
- Common Name(s):Muscat Blue Grape Vine
- Hardiness:Fully hardy through most of the UK
- How big will I get? Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Bleu’ can grow to a height of 12m and a spread of 4m.
- Did You Know That:The muscat flavor and aroma, that is commonly associated with Muscat Bleu, is due to the presence of a compound called “muscatone” in the grapes?
Plant Calendar
A rough guide to how this plant will change through the year.
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Care Guide
Soil Requirements
Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Bleu’ prefers soil with good drainage and does not tolerate standing water. This plant is not tolerant of acidic soil, it requires either a neutral or alkaline soil to grow.
Best Position
Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Bleu’ prefers a sheltered position and requires full sun to thrive, this consists of more than six hours of direct sunshine per day.
Maintenance
Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Bleu’ should be pruned annually to maintain the health and productivity of the bush. Proper pruning can encourage bush to produce more fruit, and also help to control disease and pests. The best time to prune gooseberries is during their dormant season, typically late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. When you start pruning, the first step is to remove any dead, diseased, or damaged wood. Cut these branches back to healthy wood. Next, remove any shoots that have grown from the base of the bush, as well as any old or unproductive canes. Gooseberries typically produce fruit on the 2-year-old wood, and it is important to maintain a balance between the old wood and the new wood. You should also remove any shoots that are growing in the center of the bush, which can prevent good air circulation and lead to disease problems. Then you should thin out the remaining canes, leaving 4-6 strong canes per bush, and prune them back to about 4-6 inches from the ground.
Pest, Diseases and Wildlife
Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Bleu’ can have problems with brown scale, and it tends not to have problems with diseases and is known to be resistant to mildews. It is not considered to be toxic.
