Reliance Pink Seedless Grape

Reliance is a vigorous, trouble-free grape that needs three things to thrive: full sun, well-drained acidic soil, and a sturdy support to climb. Here is how to get your vine settled and producing.

Planting

1. Unbox right away. Remove packaging, check the soil moisture, and water if the root zone feels dry. Keep the vine in bright light until you can plant.
2. Pick a full sun site. Choose a spot with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun and good air movement, which helps keep foliage dry and disease-free.
3. Check the soil. Reliance performs best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Amend heavy clay with compost and avoid low spots where water stands.
4. Dig and set. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the vine so the crown sits level with the surrounding grade, backfill, and firm gently.
5. Install support first. Put your trellis, arbor, or two-wire fence in place at planting time so you are not disturbing roots later. Space multiple vines 6 to 8 feet apart.
6. Water in and mulch. Soak thoroughly after planting and add 2 to 3 inches of mulch, keeping it a few inches off the trunk.

Watering

• First season. Water deeply once or twice a week while the root system establishes, more often in heat or sandy soil.
• Established vines. Grapes are drought tolerant once settled. Give a deep soak during extended dry spells, especially while fruit is sizing up.
• Avoid wet foliage. Water at the base rather than overhead to keep leaves and clusters dry.

Feeding

• Wait the first spring. Hold off on fertilizer until the vine shows new growth, then apply a balanced granular fertilizer.
• Feed annually. Fertilize once each spring as buds break. Do not overfeed with nitrogen, which pushes leaves at the expense of fruit.
• Keep soil acidic. Test every couple of years and use an acidifying amendment if your soil trends alkaline.

Pruning & Training

• Prune in late winter. Dormant pruning while the vine is leafless is essential for good fruit. Expect to remove most of the previous season's growth.
• Train a trunk. In year one, select the strongest shoot as the trunk and tie it to the support, removing competing shoots.
• Establish cordons. In year two, train two arms along the wire and shorten side canes to a few buds each for fruiting wood.
• Thin for airflow. Remove crowded or crossing canes each season so light and air reach the clusters.

Harvest

• Watch the color. Clusters turn rosy pink and soften as they ripen in late August.
• Taste to confirm. Grapes do not sweeten after picking, so sample a few berries before you harvest the cluster.
• Cut, don't pull. Snip clusters off with shears to avoid damaging the fruiting wood.

Are Reliance grapes really seedless?

Yes. Reliance produces true seedless pink grapes that are large, plump, and sugary sweet with tender skin and a melting texture.

How cold hardy is the Reliance grape vine?

Reliance is rated for USDA zones 4 through 8 and is one of the hardiest table grapes available. Established vines can withstand sub-zero winter temperatures.

How much fruit will one vine produce?

A mature, well-trained vine produces roughly 40 to 50 clusters of grapes per season, ripening in late August.

Do I need a second vine for pollination?

No. Reliance is self-pollinating, so a single vine will set a full crop on its own. Planting more simply gives you a larger harvest.

Does it need a lot of spraying?

Not compared to most grapes. Reliance is highly resistant to common grape diseases including powdery and downy mildew and anthracnose, so it typically needs far less spraying than standard varieties.

What kind of support does it need?

Plan on a sturdy trellis, arbor, fence, or two-wire system. Reliance is a vigorous grower that can reach 15 to 20 feet, so install the support at planting time and train the trunk up to it in the first year.