Grapes

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Tootface Clinton, TN Jun 09, 2001

I have 2 concord grape vines (5 years old) which look great and each year have lots of fruit on them. The problem is that for the past 3 years the grapes in the same bunch don't ripen together. By the time all of them get ripe half of them are rotten. I assume it is some nutrient missing from them soil, but which one? Any ideas?

Post #6211
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paulgrow Allen Park, MI(Zone 6a) Jun 10, 2001

I would contact your local extension office and get their bulletin on grapes. It contains alot of great information.

Post #82086
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melody Benton, KY(Zone 7a) Jun 10, 2001

Now this is going back more years than I care to divulge...but my aunt had concord grapes and I remember picking them.

What we did,was to pick the individual grapes as they ripened until the bunch was ripe enough to take the rest of it off the vine.

I remember buckets of round grapes ready to be made into jelly without first picking them off the cluster.Now ,she had about 20 or 30 vines,so there were plenty for this.I can see where 2 vines may give a smaller initial harvest and you probably won't get a bucket full.

Anyone else out there with any more info??I'd like to hear it also.

Post #82094
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TomK Hamburg/Pinnebog, MI(Zone 6a) Jun 12, 2001

Tootface, I hope this helps you some what.
Uneven ripening of grapes is usually caused by inadequate sunlight,too heavy a crop load on the vine,or in some cases a potassium deficiency in the soil. Proper pruning will solve the inadequate sunlight problem,prune so as to distribute foliage evenly along the trellis/wire,spacing the buds out so that all new growth gets sunshine. Next,thin the remaining grape clusters by about 20%,but best to do that just before or after the clusters have flowered. But from what you are saying its sounds more like your soil lacks potassium so spread about 1 pound of wood ashes or 1/2 cup of kelp meal at the base of each vine. Just sprinkle on top of the soil then water heavily and mulch.

Post #82404
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Tootface Clinton, TN Jun 14, 2001

I don't think the problem is pruning or too heavy crop load. We have acidic clay soil here and I run into nutrient problems all the time. Thanks for the potassium info. I can get wood ashes. I let you know if this solves the problem.

Thanks again for everyone who responded. You guys are great.

Post #82987
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