Saturday 4 May 2019

Black Hamburg.



We have plenty of wine/juice grapes, but only one black eating grape; a classic Black Hamburg.

Probably one of the best known eating grape varieties in N Europe, it is easy to grow, produces large crops, and is delicious. It has countless different names, including Black Muscat, and Muscat de Hambourg. 

Developed by a Mr R Snow of Bedfordshire in 1850, it is now extremely widespread throughout glasshouses across the UK.

I planted mine in 2017. Last year it gave me a taster of what's to come, by producing two small bunches. This year it is covered in flowers, and should produce up to 50 bunches.

I shan't let it get any bigger than it already is. If I decide I want more, I'll plant another elsewhere. 


I can hardly wait.


16 comments:

  1. So many shades of green, how beautiful it is.

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    1. Suddenly very green here, with a threat of light frost for this evening. I shall be covering all my Tomato plants tonight!

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  2. 18c now' Monday will be 35.(Sunday only 31).

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    1. Between 15 and 20 C here next week, and the threat of frost has being reduced. If we had your temperatures, I'd open the pool!

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  3. Very nice. No grapes on our vine this year due to heavy cutting back. It was only a self sown plant but still tasty.

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    1. I prune all mine quite hard each year, but they still produce. I can't stop them!

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  4. You've grown grapes to eat! I am impressed. I think we call them Black Muscat.

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    Replies
    1. They are The Gardeners favourite, and well merited. All my other grapes are rubbish, and several wheelbarrows-full go on the compost every year.

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  5. Our harvest looked that good until the hail storm. We'll still get a small harvest but ours are full of pips, not so good for eating

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    1. I'm shall keep my fingers crossed that we have no serious hail storm. As for the pips; I just swallow them.

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  6. I buy at least two boxes of black grapes each week - I adore them. Wish I lives where I could grow one in my garden.

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    1. I believe that Black Hamburg grow very easily in the UK, but you'd probably need a greenhouse.

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  7. I love the Black Muscats here, too. I really won't buy any others to eat for myself except the little currant types but Mr P isn't so fussy and will eat any old table grape. His migrant father had smuggled into the country a cutting from his home village favourite, a dark grape with the scent and taste of strawberries, and grew it as an arbour. Too late for customs and excise to come swooping in now, as the new owners of the old family home pulled the massive vine out!

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    1. What a shame; such plants should be treasured. When I sold my parents' house, the new owner pulled out a 44 tree orchard of rare trees. I was FURIOUS.

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    2. It is such a loss to everyone when all those years of effort, not the least, comes to be unappreciated by house purchasers. Some gardens almost need a "do not touch" clause if they ever come up for sale. Why buy a house with an established garden if you care not a scrap for it? Someone else will!

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  8. I see that the last two comments are in Arabic. Do you read Arabic?

    I would love to know about your ring.

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