I have been to the archives and haven't seen an answer to my question, so I'll ask this. Our grapes start out looking great then turn to raisins before ripening. What should we do? We live very much in the burbs and the vines are in a raised bed in our fenced back yard. The vine in question gets plenty of sun and we have been training it to grow on an arched arbor. It sends out very long vines (took over the neighbor's shed roof this year) and is very leafy, but, alas, no harvest even after three years. Thanks.

Corinne

-- Corinne Hayes (hayesm@fcc.net), November 05, 2001

Answers

I am certainly not an expert, but it sound like not enough, or inconsistent water.

-- no one (xxxx@sss.sss), November 05, 2001.

Yep, not enough water. I have my pond overflow drain directly to my grap vines. Just got done picking 6 5 gal buckets of them again yesterday.

-- Laura (LauramLeek@yahoo.com), November 05, 2001.

It could also be a fungus that causes the fruit to shrivel. Most commercial grape growers use fungicides on their vines.

-- Katherine Montgomery (KyKatherine@Yahoo.com), November 06, 2001.

I would say a water problem but also if it is taking over a shed roof I think you better do some serious pruning. Grapes grow on new wood but the new wood can't be a mile from the plant.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), November 06, 2001.

We had the same problem with our grapes this year. I was so disappointed. I called the county extension office and they said it was probably a fungus. You have to spray with a fungicide in the spring. Once it starts on the fruit it apparently can't be stopped. Hope we both have better luck next year.

-- Lou Ann (homes_cool@msn.com), November 06, 2001.

Thanks, y'all for the quick replies. Guess I'll water the daylights out of my grapes next year! Is it really okay to prune the vines while they're growing? Our neighbor's shed is only a foot or so on the other side of the fence from our grapevine so the growth wasn't very far from the main shoot. I haven't read anything that says it's okay to prune during the growing season, only afterwards so have been hesitant to chop away. Thanks again.

Corinne

-- Corinne Hayes (hayesm@fcc.net), November 06, 2001.

About Feb. is the time to prune the vines.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), November 06, 2001.

I don't know if it will help, but there is a website dedicated to grapes, and growing of grapes. It is www.grapeseek.com good luck

-- Rod Martin (rmins@nccn.net), November 07, 2001.