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Extra-early varieties ripen in about 100–110 days, early ones in about 110–120. They suit cooler regions and anyone who wants to harvest first. Early does not mean frost-hardy: most early varieties still need winter cover. Check the cold limit on the variety page.
1What “extra-early” and “early” mean
The ripening time shows how much time passes from bud break in spring to full ripeness of the berries. The shorter this period, the earlier the variety. Varieties are divided into groups: extra-early, early, early-to-mid, mid-season, late.
There are no firm general boundaries between the groups: different sources divide them slightly differently. As a rough guide, extra-early varieties ripen in about 100–110 days, early ones in about 110–120. So in a variety description, look at the word (“extra-early”, “early”) and at the number of days, if it is given.
Actual harvest dates depend on the year, the plot and the care: in a hot summer grapes ripen earlier, in a cool one later. Harvest by the condition of the berries — color, taste and sugar — not by the date on the calendar.
2Who early varieties suit
- The north and cooler regions. Where the summer is short, late varieties may not manage to build up sugar before the autumn cold. Early and extra-early ones have a better chance of ripening in time.
- Those who want to harvest first. Early berries appear when there are none of the others on the table yet.
- Plots with a rainy autumn. A crop picked before the long rains suffers less from rot and berry splitting.
- For a longer season. If you plant several varieties with different ripening times, you can pick grapes over several weeks instead of all at once.
3Downsides worth knowing
- Early does not mean frost-hardy. These are different properties. Most early varieties in our catalog need winter cover: the vine is covered for winter. Check the cold limit on the variety page, and read about covering in the article “How to cover grapes for winter”.
- Storage. Early varieties usually keep worse after picking than late ones: they are best eaten fresh.
- Taste and berry size depend on the variety, not on the ripening time. Among early varieties there are Muscat and neutral, small-berried and large-fruited ones, so look at the description.
4Early varieties from our catalog
There are many early varieties in the catalog. Below is a selection with different berry colors: six extra-early and six early. You will find all the others in the catalog: in the filters on the left choose “Ripening time” → “Extra-early” and “Early”.
| Variety | Berry color | Ripening time | Winter hardiness | Cluster weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensation | Pink | Extra-early | Needs winter cover, down to −24 °C | 700–1500 g |
| Slava Ukraini | Yellow | Extra-early | Needs winter cover, down to −24 °C | 800–1500 g |
| Dynka | Pink | Extra-early | Needs winter cover, down to −23 °C | 600–1000 g |
| Tuz Bordo | Blue | Extra-early | Needs winter cover, down to −23 °C | 900–1500 g |
| Tsymus | Yellow | Extra-early | Needs winter cover, down to −23 °C | 800–1000 g |
| Aiuta | Black | Extra-early | Needs winter cover, down to −21 °C | 500–800 g |
| Jupiter USA | Black | Early | No winter cover, down to −25 °C | 400–500 g |
| Valyok | Yellow | Early | Needs winter cover, down to −24 °C | 900–1800 g |
| Furor | Black | Early | Needs winter cover, down to −24 °C | up to 1200 g |
| Emihrant | Yellow | Early | Needs winter cover, down to −23 °C | 1000–1500 g |
| Preobrazhennia | Pink | Early | Needs winter cover, down to −20 °C | 780–1800 g |
| Smarahd | Yellow | Early | Needs winter cover, down to −23 °C | 800–1400 g |
See availability and prices on each variety’s page: one-year and two-year saplings can differ in availability. Tsymus and Jupiter USA are kishmish (seedless); read about it in the article “Kishmish: what kind of grape it is and how to choose a variety”.
5How to choose an early variety
- Think about your region and summerThe shorter and cooler the summer, the more important it is to choose an extra-early or early variety.
- Check frost resistanceRipening time does not determine it. If you do not want to cover the vine every year, look among the early ones for no-cover varieties and check the cold limit on the variety page.
- Choose color and tasteWhite (yellow), pink, black and blue early varieties differ in taste and appearance — go by the description.
- Plan the seasonCombine an early variety with an early-to-mid and a mid-season one so the harvest ripens in turn. General tips on choosing are in the article “How to choose a grape variety”.
- Do not put off plantingWhen it is better to plant — spring or autumn — we explain in the article “When to plant grapes”.
6Frequently asked questions
How does an extra-early variety differ from an early one?
An extra-early one ripens a little earlier still. The boundary between the groups is conventional: different sources interpret it differently, so it matters more to look at the ripening time on the page of the specific variety and at real observations from your region.
Are early varieties more frost-hardy?
No. Ripening time and frost resistance are independent properties. Each variety has its own cold limit, stated on its page. Most early varieties need winter cover.
When should I harvest early varieties?
Go by the condition of the berries, not the date: the berries should have taken on color, sweetness and their characteristic taste. In a warm summer the crop ripens earlier, in a cool one later.
Is it worth planting only early varieties?
Not necessarily. If you want to pick grapes for longer, combine early varieties with mid-season ones. For cooler regions early and extra-early varieties are more reliable, so that is usually where the bet is placed.
