If you’re looking for a sweet new fruit to add to your garden, look no further! These delicious grapes are becoming more and more popular each year, and it’s easy to see why. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about growing cotton candy grapes, how to make them taste even sweeter and if it’s possible to find and buy Cotton Candy grape seeds.
Where Does Cotton Candy Grape Originate From?
Horticulturist David Cain and his colleagues at Bakersfield, California-based fruit breeder International Fruit Genetics produced the grapes. Grapery, a California-based farmer, first started selling the grapes in 2011.
International fruit genetics are specialized in cross breeding and are responsible for a number of popular fruit varieties, including the Honeycrisp apple.
The Cotton Candy Grapevine cultivar was not created to encourage children to eat more fruits. It was created with the intention of bringing the true grape experience back to the store.
While cotton candy grapes are fun and delicious, they’re not without their controversy. Some people argue that the grapes are nothing more than genetically modified Frankenfoods. Others believe that the process of mutagenesis is safe and that there’s nothing wrong with creating new varieties of fruits and vegetables.
What Are The Best Uses For Cotton Candy Grapes?
There are endless possibilities when it comes to using the delicious sweet grapes! They’re perfect for snacking on fresh out of the garden, but they also make great additions to salads, smoothies, and even desserts. And if you’re looking for something special to serve at your next party, why not try making some skewers?
It’s also popular with wine lovers – they make a great addition to white wine and champagne cocktails.
How Are Cotton Candy Grapes Made?
This green grape is made using a process called mutagenesis, which is when genes are changed or mutated to create new traits. In the case of this particular grape, the goal was to create a grape with a sweeter flavor and a higher sugar content.
While traditional breeding methods can take years to produce desired results, mutagenesis can create new varieties in a much shorter time frame. This is because it involves exposing the grapes to chemicals or radiation, which randomly mutates their DNA.
Once the desired traits have been achieved, the new variety is then propagated using traditional methods like grafting or cutting.
How do Cotton Candy Grapes Grow?
This variety is a hybrid grape, so they will grow best if you plant the seeds in a mix of 50% sand and 50% peat moss.
The unique vines will need something to climb on, so make sure to provide them with a trellis or fence. They will also need plenty of water and fertilizer, especially when they’re young.
If you live in a colder climate, you can overwinter your cotton candy grape vines by burying them in the soil and mulching over top.
With that said, these grapes do not grow from fruit trees naturally.
How to Grow Cotton Candy Grapes
You will be disappointed if you were planning to establish a grape arbor to grow Cotton Candy Grapes. It is are a seedless variety, which means they have to be grown from seedlings in a test tube.
Because they are currently patented, cuttings are not accessible. Although grapes may be reproduced from a vine, using a vine from a bag of grapes from the supermarket is likely to be a losing venture.
For now, store bought grapes are what you can get as you can’t grow your own grapes of this type yet.
How long does it take to grow Cotton Candy grapes?
It will take approximately 18 months after planting the test tube grown seedlings before you can expect a crop. The first year the vines will not produce grapes but will instead focus on growing roots and leaves.
What Do Cotton Candy Grapes Taste Like?
Even though it’s a green grape, it tastes just like their namesake – like a mouthful of fluffy cotton candy. They’re incredibly sweet and have very little acidity, which makes them perfect for snacking on.
Where To Get Cotton Candy Grapes
They are not yet available in all grocery stores, but they can be found at select farmers’ markets and specialty stores.
You can also purchase them online from a variety of retailers.
They are not yet available in all grocery stores, but they can be found at select farmers’ markets and specialty stores. You can also purchase them online from a variety of retailers.
Price for Cotton Candy Grapes?
The price will vary depending on the retailer, but they typically range from $5 – $15.
However, these are not the typical supermarket grapes and can be quite hard to find.
It’ll also be hard to find cotton candy grape vines for sale.
Where Can I Buy Cotton Candy Grape Seeds?
You cannot buy cotton candy grapes seeds cause they’re patented and seedless.
Grape Species You Can Grow Instead
Here we will list a couple of grapes you can grow instead of the Cotton candy grape:
Concord grapes
Concord grapes are the most common grape in the United States, and they grow well in both cold and warm climates.
Muscadine grapes
Muscadine grapes originate from the southern United States, and their thick skin makes them pest and disease resistant.
This variety will grow great in zones 5-8.
Niagara grapes
Niagara grapes are a type of white grape that is known for their sweet flavor and large size.
White table grapes
White table grapes are just what they sound like – grapes that are meant to be eaten as-is, with no processing required.
Thomcord Grape
Thomcord grapes are a hybrid of Thompson Seedless and Concord grapes, and they have the best attributes of both varieties.
They’re large and sweet, with a thick skin that makes them perfect for snacking on.
Cabernet Sauvignon Grape
Cabernet Sauvignon is among the world’s most well-known red wine varietals, with a full-bodied taste and significant tannin concentration.
Candace Grapes
Candace grapes are a type of red grape that is known for their sweetness and lack of acidity.
These grapes grow well in cold climates, making them a good choice for growers in the northern United States.
Thompson Seedless Grape
Thompson Seedless grapes are the most popular white grape in the world, and they’re known for their sweet flavor and large size.
These grapes grow well in both cold and warm climates.
Zinfandel Grape
Zinfandel is a type of red grape that is known for its fruity flavor and high alcohol content.
These grapes are typically used for winemaking, and they grow well in warm climates.
Lakemont grapes
Lakemont grapes are a type of green grape that is known for its sweetness and tart flavor.
These grapes grow well in cold climates, making them a good choice for growers in the northern United States.
Himrod Grapes
Himrod grapes are a type of white grape that is known for their sweetness and high acidity.
Image Collection of the Cotton Candy Grape
Here’s a vast collection of images of the famous grape. You’ll see Cotton Candy Grape vine cuttings and more.
FAQ
To read more about other fruits like the strawberry kiwi, check out our other articles.