If you’re looking for something different to plant in a container this year, consider Pixie grapes, a grapevine that grows only 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) tall. The grape clusters are equally diminutive, reaching about four inches (10 cm) in length. The tiny grapes would certainly be a conversation piece for your patio table.
Pixie is a naturally occurring mutant of Vitis vinifera ‘Pinot Meunier’, the variety used to produce wine and Champagne. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Ontario began using the vine, which was developed in the U.S., in its genomics lab to help study genetic traits in grapevines over several generations in a short amount of time. Unlike full-size vines, which may take up to three years to produce grapes, Pixie produces fruit in its first year of growth. However, the research centre along with the president of Sunrise Greenhouses in Vineland, who is a board member of the centre, also recognized the small grapevine’s ornamental appearance would appeal to consumers, too.
According to Sunrise Greenhouses, six-inch (15-cm) pots of Pixie will begin shipping to supermarkets and garden centres in mid-April to mid-May. The plants need full sun and moderately moist soil. Even though Pixie is a dwarf vine, a small trellis is needed for support.
Feed plants three times per season with a low-nitrogen product, such as fish emulsion, stopping in midsummer to slow the growth of the vine and ripen fruit. To overwinter a Pixie grapevine, remove shoots that grew during the summer, leaving two branches for next year’s growth; move the plant into a cool protected location until next spring.
Terri says
June 17, 2018 at 3:26 pmPurchased 2 @ Lowe’s for $15 each. They are so cute and awesome
Joe says
June 2, 2018 at 10:59 amShould the Pixie grapes be repotted after purchase from plastic pot they were purchased in?
Carrie says
September 16, 2017 at 12:00 pmMy Pixie Grapes were bought about 4 months ago. Has been outside all summer, watered at the end of every night (was very warm on the patio). Just brought inside the other night as its starting to get cold outside. I have yet to get ANY grapes on it, the leaves are turning yellow (have been for a while) or are a very light green. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Gie says
April 26, 2018 at 1:26 amGrapes need winterizing weather. It is not a tropical.naturally will loose leaves then buds come out in spring for shoot followed shortly by fruit
Katrina says
June 11, 2017 at 5:59 pmMy pixie grapes taste extremely bitter. About a year and a half old, multiple clusters, but the taste is bitter! Are they not ready or is something else happening?!?
Gie says
April 26, 2018 at 1:28 amYes u picked it to early..it is ready when soft to touch..also can be bitter when not enough water when fruit was enlarging
paul says
October 26, 2016 at 9:37 amWe live north of winnipeg, manitoba, on edge of Birds Hill Prov Pk, in the forest. Have 4 Pixies and were going to have them in house. However, they were doing poorly (leaf loss, strange type of webbing on 2 of them), soooo, decided to put them in ground outside (beginning of October) in area with approx. 4-6 hrs sunlight in high summer. Had transferred them to larger pots, and when transplanting to ground, the root growth was impressive. What suggestions do you have for keeping them happy outside.? Can ONLY find minimum info re keeping them inside. We are having mild minus Celcius temps now, and they still look fine. Please advise, thanks in advance, Paul Weitzel
Gie says
April 26, 2018 at 1:31 amAgain it needs winterizing outside,leaves turn colors in fall n loose em.in spring time shoots come out then few weeks later fruits come out
S.J. Skinner says
July 7, 2016 at 2:56 pmJuly 7, 2016: I e-mailed the producer of the Pixie Grape, Sunrise Greenhouses, and they said they “will be shipping into Metro stores come the first week of September”. Hooray!
Beckie Fox says
March 20, 2016 at 10:10 amWe don’t have a list of retailers that will be stocking Pixie grape. However, I’d try contacting a large nursery or garden centre near you—Belleville or Kingston, perhaps?—to ask if they will be ordering plants. I have heard that some of the larger grocery chains that sell plants in the spring, such as Zehr’s and Loblaws, may be offering Pixie for sale. Another suggestion would be to email the wholesale distributor of the plants, Sunrise Greenhouses (sunrise greenhouses.ca), and ask where Pixie will be sold near Campbellford.
Joan Ferreira says
March 19, 2016 at 2:30 pmI live in campbellford ont where can I buy this grape plant pixie
ben says
June 5, 2017 at 9:25 amWhere near Bellville can i find this product? wild grapes are growing prolifically around the house. limestone gran A type of soil. about 2 acres, top of a moraine. thanking you for your answer, in advance.