Our grapes have a problem. A lot of them turn into rock-like raisins before they get ripe. Last summer we lost the entire crop and we started with an abundance of grapes. We tried appling a triple action fungicide, mildewcide, insecticide, and were able to save about half the crop this year, but I'm not convinced that was the problem.

What is causing this? Can you help?

(P.S. I am a subscriber and I love your magazine! We have a cabin in the middle of nowhere and go to on weekends. We plan to retire there, beyond the sidewalks!)

-- Vicki Koval (jovial.kabin@worldnet.att.net), August 29, 1999

Answers

Dear Vicki, Are your grapes near choke or pin cherry trees? It may just be a coincidence, but they get a scab/rust/fungus that makes them turn hard as a rock. I don't have any suggestions for a cure, but your county extension agent may be able to help. The cherries have to be gone through more carefully before processing, but the loss isn't too great. With grapes tho', I know how frustrated you must feel. Every time I think I'm going to get a good crop of my grapes, the bears decide to satisfy their sweet tooths, or we get a bigger than normal flock of migrating birdies come thru' on the wrong day (for us)! Good luck!

-- Ginger Morgan (vermort@spacestar.net), September 17, 1999.

I, too, have had this problem for the last 5 years. Prior to that, we got all the grapes we wanted. We have 10 vines of 5 varities in the same area. Curiously, I have one other vine avout 100 yards away from the problem area, separated by lilacs, lawn and pear trees. That 1 vine produces very well every year (it is a concord) and has never been infected. I believe the culprit is "black spot" fungus, and I have sprayed with several fungicides, with very little success. Copper seems to be the answer from what I read, but success has been elusive. HOWEVER, this past season, I noticed substantial improvement. I still sprayed, with little enthusiasm, but this year we salvaged maybe 15% of the crop. Perhaps the grapes are building immunity. Perhaps the fungus is gettin tired. Perhaps the fungicide is starting to work. When & if you figure this out, please let me know! Brad in Maine

-- Brad Traver (homefixer@mix-net.net), January 03, 2000.