Canadice Grape

Canadice was released from Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York, in 1977. The cross — Bath by Himrod — was made in 1945 by R.M. Pool and J.P. Watson at the Geneva grapevine breeding program. Himrod, itself derived from Thompson Seedless ancestry, contributed the seedless character and elevated Canadice’s disease resistance and winter hardiness above what earlier Geneva seedless releases had achieved. Bath, a complex American hybrid, supplied the cold adaptability and productive habit. The Geneva program had been developing seedless grapes adapted to northeastern growing conditions since 1919, and Canadice is considered the first of the program’s second-generation seedless releases — advancing beyond the experimental lines of that earlier era into a commercially practical cultivar for Zones 5 through 8. Named for Canandaigua Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region, where it was trialed extensively, Canadice became a standard for seedless red table grape production in the northeastern United States and Canada. Its plant patent has since expired.

Canadice performs best in full sun with at least six to eight hours of direct light daily — canopy shading reduces fruit sugar accumulation and delays maturity. The vine's modest chill requirement of roughly 100 to 200 hours means it breaks dormancy early in spring, putting new shoots at risk in late-frost zones; orienting rows on a south-facing slope or planting against a thermal mass helps buffer that exposure. Soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5 keeps iron and manganese available; values above 6.5 can trigger lime-induced chlorosis in labrusca hybrids. Consistent moisture of about one inch per week during fruit development supports cluster fill and reduces berry splitting, but irrigation should taper off as harvest nears to concentrate sugars. Annual cane or spur pruning to a trellis is essential — unpruned vines produce excessive leaf canopy and underdeveloped fruit.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-8
AHS Heat Zone: 3-7
Chill Hours: 150-350
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Soil pH: 5.5-6.5
Soil Type: Loam, well-drained; tolerates a wide range including sandy loam to clay loam
Soil Drainage: Well-drained
Water Requirements: Medium; approximately 1 inch per week, especially in first year
Drought Tolerance: Moderate; drought resistant once established
Plant Spacing: 8-15 ft between vines
How to Prune: Prune annually in early spring before leaf emergence; use cane or spur pruning on a trellis system to control vigor and maximize fruit production

Canadice is a vigorous deciduous climber that reaches 15 to 20 feet along a trellis when fully established, with an annual spread of 10 to 20 feet depending on pruning intensity. Tendrils are the primary attachment mechanism, so the vine depends entirely on wire, post, or lattice support — it will not self-adhere to masonry. The foliage is large and lobed, turning yellow in fall before drop. Growth habit is energetic in the first two seasons as the root system establishes; heavy vegetative growth in year one should be redirected by removing flower clusters to build vine structure rather than attempting to harvest. Because cane vigor is moderate to high, annual dormant pruning to four to six canes (or eight to twelve spurs per arm) keeps the fruiting zone manageable and reduces the interior shading that favors fungal disease.

Mature Height: 15-20 ft tall
Mature Spread: 10-20 ft wide
Growth Habit: Woody deciduous tendril-climbing vine; requires trellis or support
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Food Forest Layer: Canopy, Vine
Leaf Color: Green
Attracts Wildlife: Birds, bees
Life Span: productive for 50+ years with proper care

Canadice is self-fertile: its flowers carry functional stamens and pistils, and wind movement plus bee activity during the brief May-to-June bloom window is sufficient for fruit set. Grape flowers are small and greenish-yellow with a notable fragrance that attracts native bees and honeybees. While no cross-pollinator is required, planting a second self-fertile variety nearby — such as Reliance Grape or Einset Grape, which share a compatible bloom window — can improve cluster density through increased pollen saturation. Cluster thinning to one cluster per shoot after bloom further improves berry size and air circulation.

Bloom Season: Very Late
Bloom Window: Mid May - Mid Jun
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile
Pollination Mechanism: Wind and insect (bees)
Flower Color: Greenish-yellow (fragrant)

Canadice produces medium-sized, nearly seedless berries averaging roughly 0.75 inch in diameter, ripening red to deep burgundy-pink. The flavor profile is sweet with a mild spice undertone and the characteristic labrusca 'foxy' aromatic quality familiar from Concord — though noticeably more restrained than pure labrusca types. Sugar content at harvest typically reads 17 to 19 Brix in favorable years. The skin is thin and slip-skin in type, meaning it separates readily from the pulp when pressure is applied — a texture that fresh-market eaters either appreciate or find unusual compared to European vinifera grapes. Mature vines yield 10 to 40 pounds per season. Berries hold on the cluster for one to two weeks at cellar temperature; refrigerated storage extends this to roughly four weeks. Primary uses include fresh eating, juice, jams, jellies, and small-batch raisins.

Ripening Season: Late
Harvest Window: Mid Aug - Early Oct
Fruit Size: 0.75 inch
Flavor: Sweet with a hint of spice; similar to Delaware grape; labrusca ('foxy') character
Fruit Color: Red to deep burgundy-pink when ripe
Fruit Skin: Thin, tender; slip-skin type
Bearing Habit: Annual bearer; productive and consistent
Years to Bear: 2-4 years
Yield: 10-40 per mature vine
Storage Life: 1-2 weeks fresh; up to 4 months with post-harvest SO2 fumigation
Culinary Uses: Fresh eating, jams, jellies, juice, raisins, wine

Canadice carries susceptibility to Black Rot (Guignardia bidwelli), the most destructive foliar and fruit disease of grapes in humid climates. Black rot spreads rapidly during warm, wet periods from bud break through mid-summer; the primary organic strategy is aggressive sanitation — removing all mummified berries and infected canes before new growth emerges — combined with timing canopy pruning to maximize airflow through the cluster zone. Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe necator), Downy Mildew (Plasmopara viticola), Botrytis Bunch Rot (Botrytis cinerea), and Anthracnose (Elsinoe ampelina) all register as moderately susceptible. For mildews, avoid overhead irrigation, orient rows to catch prevailing wind, and apply sulfur or potassium bicarbonate at seven- to ten-day intervals during high-pressure periods. Botrytis risk peaks during wet harvest weather; cluster thinning and leaf removal in the fruit zone after fruit set are the most effective organic interventions. Grape Berry Moth (Paralobesia viteana), Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica), Grape Phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae), and Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) are all moderately susceptible pest concerns. Pheromone trap monitoring for Berry Moth guides timing of kaolin clay applications. Row covers and hand-removal can reduce Japanese Beetle pressure without sprays.

Black Rot: Susceptible
Powdery Mildew: Moderately Susceptible
Downy Mildew: Moderately Susceptible
Botrytis Bunch Rot: Moderately Susceptible
Anthracnose: Moderately Susceptible
Grape Berry Moth: Moderately Susceptible
Japanese Beetle: Moderately Susceptible
Grape Phylloxera: Moderately Susceptible
Spotted Wing Drosophila: Moderately Susceptible

• Sanitation first for black rot: Collect and destroy all mummified berries and cankered wood each dormant season — the highest-impact step for reducing black rot inoculum in a home planting.
• Thin clusters early: Remove all but one cluster per shoot after fruit set to improve berry size, airflow, and botrytis resistance.
• Orient rows for airflow: Running rows parallel to prevailing summer winds reduces the humid canopy conditions that favor powdery mildew, downy mildew, and anthracnose.
• Time the first harvest by taste: Skin color reaches full burgundy up to two weeks before peak sugar — taste-test clusters rather than relying on color alone.
• Build structure before fruiting: Remove flower clusters in years one and two to redirect energy to trunk development — vines that bear heavily too early produce weaker wood.

Our 365-Day Plant Guarantee: We ensure that our plants are delivered to you alive and healthy. If your plant does not survive its first year, you're eligible for store credit under these conditions:

1. Your location falls within the appropriate USDA hardiness zone for the plant variety (refer to our hardiness zone map).
2. You maintain the roots' moisture and plant within three days of delivery, following the instructions in our Planting Guide.

If you're concerned about your plant's health, please consult our guide, How to Tell if Your Tree is Dead or Dormant. Remember, our plants are shipped in a dormant state and may leaf out at different times based on their species. To check for plant vital