St. Croix
Also known as: E.S. 283
A hybrid red (Cold-hardy hybrid (Swenson)).
Across the consideration criteria
What it makes
Aromatic family
Tasting notes
How it grows
- Cold hardiness
- -28°F
- Ripening
- Early-season
- Vigor
- High
- Disease tolerance
- Very high
- Drainage need
- Moderately Well
- Soil pH
- 6–7
- Graft requirement
- Graft Recommended
- US availability
- Widely Available
Considerations
Primary buds start to die near -28°F. Shrugs off hard continental winters.
Needs roughly 2400 growing degree-days to ripen, an early-season variety (Winkler I-II). Finishes early, well before a hard fall frost.
Foliar-disease pressure is moderate for this variety, a regular spray program in a humid climate. Regular cover sprays through the wet months.
Susceptible to Pierce's disease. Only a threat in the warm, humid South and parts of California; cold-winter regions cure it naturally.
High vigor. Wants leaner ground and active canopy management, or fruit hides in shade.
Low heat tolerance. Bakes and loses acid on hot sites; favors cooler ground.
High water demand. Wants steady moisture; struggles on droughty soils.
Prefers soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Outside the band, lime or sulfur brings it in range.
Phylloxera-tolerant: own-rooted vines are fine.
These are intrinsic to the grape. On a real property, Folia scores each against your site; here they're shown on their own.
Grows alike
similar to growFrontenac
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Sabrevois
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Marquette
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Petite Pearl
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Verona
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Crimson Pearl
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Climate-adapted alternatives
more resilient picksDivico
Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (3 pathogen-steps improved) · Higher heat tolerance in the same role
Cabernet Cortis
Better downy mildew + botrytis resistance (2 pathogen-steps improved) · Higher heat tolerance in the same role
Pinotin
Better downy mildew + botrytis resistance (2 pathogen-steps improved) · Higher heat tolerance in the same role
Petite Pearl
Better downy mildew + botrytis resistance (2 pathogen-steps improved) · Tolerates 5°F more winter cold
Marquette
Better downy mildew + botrytis resistance (2 pathogen-steps improved) · Tolerates 2°F more winter cold
Frontenac
Better downy mildew + botrytis resistance (2 pathogen-steps improved) · Tolerates 2°F more winter cold
Could St. Croix grow on your land?
See how St. Croix scores against your specific property, with local precedent, climate, and the tradeoffs for your ground.
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