Himrod Grape

Himrod emerged from a 1928 cross of Ontario and Thompson Seedless (Sultanina) made at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York — the same foundational cross that eventually produced three sibling varieties: Interlaken, Romulus, and Lakemont, all named for Finger Lakes communities near Geneva. Ontario itself is a labrusca-influenced hybrid, contributing cold hardiness and disease adaptability; Thompson Seedless (Vitis vinifera) supplied the seedlessness trait and mild European-style flavor. Himrod, carrying the accession designation NY 15310, was released commercially in 1952 as the station’s first widely promoted seedless white hybrid suited to the northeastern United States. It arrived at a moment when seedless table grapes were largely a California commodity unavailable to northern growers, filling a genuine gap in the eastern fresh-market supply. The labrusca contribution is measurably lighter in Himrod than in straight American-type crosses, placing its flavor profile much closer to vinifera than to Concord. It remained a benchmark seedless white grape for northeastern home and small-farm production for decades after its release.

Himrod's labrusca ancestry gives it genuine cold hardiness into Zone 5, but the vinifera influence means the vine is less forgiving about waterlogged roots or poor air circulation than a pure native species would be. Planting on a south- or southeast-facing slope with good drainage addresses both: the slope sheds cold air and standing water, while the solar exposure advances berry maturity in climates with shorter frost-free windows. Soil pH in the 5.5 to 6.5 range keeps phosphorus and micronutrients available without promoting vigorous vegetative growth that dilutes sugar development. Water needs run moderate — roughly 1 to 1.5 inches weekly — but consistent soil moisture during bloom and early berry development reduces shot berries and improves cluster fill. Once canes are established after the first two seasons, Himrod tolerates short dry spells reasonably well. Avoid overhead irrigation, which prolongs leaf wetness and invites the fungal diseases this hybrid is only moderately equipped to resist. Fertility should lean toward potassium during the growing season; excess nitrogen drives shoot elongation at the expense of fruit quality and worsens disease pressure.

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; adaptable to average garden soils with good drainage
Soil Drainage: Well-drained
Water Requirements: Medium; 1-1.5 inches weekly; drought-tolerant once established
Drought Tolerance: Moderate (drought-tolerant once established)
Plant Spacing: 8 ft apart (trellis rows)
How to Prune: Annual dormant pruning in late winter; cane or spur pruning on trellis system; cut to 2-3 buds per arm, removing old and damaged canes

Himrod is a vigorous, tendril-climbing deciduous vine capable of extending 20 to 25 feet of new shoot growth in a single season under good conditions, which is both an asset and a management challenge. Without a trellis or support structure — a two-wire or four-wire system at 36 and 60 inches is standard — the vine sprawls and tangles, reducing airflow and making harvest impractical. Mature vines trained on a trellis reach 15 to 20 feet along the wire and spread 10 to 20 feet, making 8-foot in-row spacing the functional minimum to avoid excessive canopy overlap. Leaves are large, shallowly three-lobed, and medium green through summer, transitioning to yellow and orange in fall — ornamentally useful on pergolas or arbors where seasonal color is valued. The woody trunk and cordons thicken over years into a structural framework that, once established, supports heavy crops for 20 to 50 years with proper annual pruning. Root architecture is moderately deep and spreading, anchoring well in loamy soils but sensitive to compaction and standing water.

Mature Height: 15-20 ft tall (on trellis; pruned shorter in cultivation)
Mature Spread: 10-20 ft wide
Growth Habit: Woody, deciduous, tendril-climbing vine
Growth Rate: Fast; vigorous (20-25 ft annual shoot growth potential)
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Food Forest Layer: Vine
Leaf Color: Green (large, shallowly three-lobed)
Fall Foliage Color: Yellow to orange
Thorns?: No
Attracts Wildlife: Bees (pollinator flowers); birds (fruit)
Life Span: Perennial (long-lived; productive for 20-50+ years)

Himrod carries perfect (bisexual) flowers, making it self-fertile — a convenience that simplifies planting but doesn't eliminate the benefit of nearby companions. Bloom falls in the late May to early June window in temperate climates, with greenish-yellow panicles that are inconspicuous but fragrant and attractive to bees. Pollination is primarily accomplished by wind and visiting bees working across the cluster. Because Himrod is a seedless variety developed through stenospermocarpy, successful berry development depends on sufficient pollen transfer even within the same vine — and nearby cross-pollinators consistently improve cluster weight and fill compared to isolated plantings. Any other grape variety in bloom at the same time will serve; white seedless companions like Lakemont Grape or Niagara Grape are planted by many growers for this purpose while keeping the harvest palette cohesive.

Bloom Season: Very Late
Bloom Window: Late May - Early Jun
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile
Pollination Mechanism: Wind and insect (bee) pollination
Flower Color: Greenish-yellow (inconspicuous)
Ploidy: Diploid (2n)

Berries ripen to green-gold in late August through early September in temperate climates — among the earliest of the white seedless types, a genuine advantage in compressed harvest windows. Size runs 0.6 to 0.75 inches in diameter with an oval profile; individual berry weight averages around 2 grams, with clusters averaging roughly 163 grams (about a third of a pound). The flavor centers on delicate honey sweetness with low acidity — closer to a mild Muscat character than to the pronounced foxy grape candy of Concord. Texture is crisp and juicy with non-slipskin adherent skin, giving the berry a satisfying snap fresh and holding up well during refrigerated storage (2 to 4 weeks at near-freezing). Sugar level and low acidity also make Himrod a capable raisin grape; clusters dry into plump, light-colored raisins that retain mild flavor. Additional uses include fresh juice, fruit salads, and small-batch wine, though the low tannin content favors light, early-drinking styles rather than structured aging.

Ripening Season: Mid
Harvest Window: Late Aug - Early Sep
Fruit Size: 0.6-0.75 inch (medium, oval berries)
Fruit Weight: Cluster: 0.36 lb (163 g); Berry: 2.1 g
Flavor: Sweet, delicate, honey-like; mild without heavy labrusca musk; crisp texture
Fruit Color: Green to golden yellow when ripe
Fruit Texture: Crisp, crunchy, juicy; non-slipskin
Fruit Skin: Thin, tender; non-slipskin (adherent skin)
Years to Bear: 2-3 years
Storage Life: 2-4 weeks refrigerated
Culinary Uses: Fresh eating (table grape), raisins, juice, wine, fruit salads, desserts

Himrod's hybrid background places it in an intermediate tier for grape pathogens — more tolerant than pure vinifera varieties, but less so than disease-focused hybrids like Frontenac or Marquette. Black Rot (Guignardia bidwellii) is the most serious fungal threat in humid summers; spores from overwintered mummified berries infect clusters rapidly during bloom. Stripping all mummified clusters and infected canes during dormant pruning — then destroying rather than composting debris — is the most effective preventive step. Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe necator) worsens with dense canopy; annual fruit-zone leaf removal in early summer reduces incidence substantially without spraying. Botrytis Bunch Rot (Botrytis cinerea) exploits wounds from bird pecks or cracked berries; keeping the cluster zone open to sun and air is the primary cultural control. Grape Berry Moth (Paralobesia viteana) larvae bore into developing berries and rank as the highest-pressure insect pest; pheromone trap monitoring to time Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) at egg-hatch is the standard organic approach. Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica) can defoliate rapidly; hand-pick adults at dawn and apply kaolin clay during peak flight. Grape Phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) is a concern in regions with known infestations — grafting onto resistant rootstock provides reliable protection. Grape Leafhopper (Erythroneura spp.) stippling is kept in check by diverse ground cover sustaining parasitic wasp populations.

Black Rot: Moderately Susceptible
Powdery Mildew: Moderately Susceptible
Downy Mildew: Moderately Resistant
Botrytis Bunch Rot: Moderately Susceptible
Phomopsis Cane and Leaf Spot: Moderately Resistant
Grape Berry Moth: Susceptible
Grape Phylloxera: Moderately Susceptible
Japanese Beetle: Susceptible
Grape Leafhopper: Moderately Susceptible

• Remove mummies for black rot control: Every overwintered mummified berry cluster is a primary inoculum source. Clear them during dormant pruning — do not compost.
• Open the fruit zone for mildew prevention: Strip leaves from the cluster zone once berries reach pea size — this single step substantially reduces powdery mildew incidence.
• Deploy berry moth pheromone traps: Set traps by early May to track grape berry moth flight; counts indicate when to time Bt applications before berries are punctured.
• Protect from deer early and late: Himrod is palatable to deer from shoot emergence through harvest. Physical fencing or repellents are necessary until vines grow out of reach.
• Manage japanese beetle proactively: Hand-pick beetles into soapy water at dawn; avoid planting near preferred hosts like ornamental roses or lindens.

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