By Biggles

Re: Grapes
20 Jul 2008 18:44

The vines are ripening well despite them beiong pruned late too.

How are your new vines coming along V Viv?

Replies

By Dolly

Re: Grapes
20 Jul 2008 18:55

Biggs,
Are you going to produce your own wine and export it??
tee hee....
Dolly
:0)

By treehugger

Re: Grapes
21 Jul 2008 10:27

Hi Biggles (+Dolly!)
we have uncovered some old vines on our land here and planted lots more new ones earlier this year- perhaps you can advise me - everyone sprays theirs here- we hate chemicals and are totally organic with everything else, but i have been told that you should spray them or the grapes will be spoilt- do you spray yours with anything?

By Biggles

Re: Grapes
21 Jul 2008 11:23

:0))) Oh NO Dolly, far too selfish ! Only discovered white grapes that are accessable, very sweet when they get the sun.

Hi Treehugger, we are trying to be organic as well. We are novices to much of this and OH was very trepidatious when it came to pruning the vines. The 'percieved wisdom' is to cut back leaving 2 buds on the brances you want. This we did, quite late, and seems to be to good effect. Our vines appear to be quite old and we have long stretches of old wood. We are thinking of 'hard pruning' next year. We don't spray. We have a fungal problem with the leaves, but this does not affect the fruit. Bit like peach leaf curl. In both cases we have have removed the infected leaves, leaving any fruits, and the new growth has been OK. I think it is the spores that cause the problem when it is damp. We burn all the cuttings.
Are you growing for profit (i.e. making wine), or just enjoyment? I suppose if you want a higher yield some action may be needed. Biggs

By treehugger

Re: Grapes
21 Jul 2008 11:51

hi thanks Biggs- no, it's just for us- it's good to hear you don't spray- i think we will do the same and just see what happens.
the most difficult thing is trying to explain it to the neighbours- they dont get 'organic' at all- think we're mad not using chemicals- thanks for the tips :-)

By sandrak

Re: Grapes
22 Jul 2008 08:45

Hi Biggs
We only have a dessert grapevine but have a bumper crop each year. Once fruit appears I spray regularly with seaweed solution and cut back growth which isn't fruiting to let in air and light. Never used chemicals and even in this horrible summer no sign of mould or any other nasties.