Table Grape "Muscat Bleu"
"Muscat bleu" is an excellent ornamental variety for facades whiel providing delicious grapes! It is the second of two table grape varieties that we recommend for walls. Its resistance to fungi is relatively high, so spraying is usually unnecessary. Due to its dark colour, however, "Muscat bleu" is more likely to be spotted and nibbled by birds than the green-yellow "Muscat Birstaler," and its harvest window is not quite as long.
"Muscat bleu," "Blue Muscat," or "Blauer Muskataler," Swiss variety from "Garnier 15/6" x "Seyve-Villard 20-347"
Availability / Price
Bare-rooted from March - May; reserving a plant (from January on) is recommended due to limited annual quantity. Available all year as a potted plant (3 litre).
Characteristics
"Blue Muscat" is a Swiss variety bred from "Garnier 15/6" x "Seyve-Villard 20-347" and is currently one of the most popular table grape varieties for home gardens, walls, etc.. thanks to its particularly succulent fruit. It is also grown professionally for grapes and juice. This is a grapevine for sunny southeast or west facing walls, and is highly resistant to powdery and downy mildew. It can be grown on a free-standing trellis or pergola, provided it is protected from the wind. Autumn foliage is not red but yellow!
Grape Clusters
From the 2nd or 3rd year on: large, 15 - 20 cm long, loosely-branched
Berries (Grapes)
Turning blue from midsummer, ellipsoid, approx. 1.5 - 2 cm, sweet with a 'muscat' (musky, floral, nutmeg) flavour, which disappears if berries are left on the vine for a long time after ripening. Few pips (seeds)-- approx. 1-2 pips per berry. The relatively thick skin provides a degree of protection against wasps.
Maturity
Grapes will be ready to eat quite early, sometimes already by the end of August
NOTE
This grapevine sometimes does not produce enough buds, which can make pruning difficult for beginners. "Regent" is a good alternative here.
The protected status of the 'Blue muscat' / 'Muscat bleu' variety is not yet definite. Sometimes also used for winemaking in Switzerland.
