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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: AlanP on August 04, 2015, 21:42:46

Title: Grapes
Post by: AlanP on August 04, 2015, 21:42:46

I have small grapes (no its not painful) the vine is 4 years old, I thinned the bunches down to 12 but they are still small and full of seeds, I have even fed it with liquid manure. it has been the same for the last three years.
Any ideas

Alan

Title: Re: Grapes
Post by: galina on August 04, 2015, 22:31:32

I thought, 'gosh they look good'   :sunny:

Not all grapes hang in huge bunches and most grapes have seeds, there is not much you can do to make the bunches bigger or get seedless grapes.  It is just the variety you've got. 

Do you know what variety it is? 

Title: Re: Grapes
Post by: ed dibbles on August 05, 2015, 08:01:51

Perhaps you have a naturally small bunched kind. Any idea of the variety?

If thinning the bunches doesn't help and it sounds like girdling the vine will be of little help either then I suggest to leave all the bunches in future to increase your overall yield. I'm assuming the grapes are sweet but pippy.

(girdling is a technique that restricts the sap flow and can increase berry size on some varieties.)

If they are unpleasant for you to eat and you don't want to make wine or juice from them you could give them to someone who does. (freecyclers perhaps) :happy7:

Ultimately if you want large eating grape you need to plant a variety that provides this. :happy7:

Title: Re: Grapes
Post by: ed dibbles on August 05, 2015, 08:25:54

Looking at your the picture, the bunch you are holding is a perfectly acceptable size for an albeit smaller variety. :happy7:

The large commercial grapes you get at the supermarket/market stall have often come from vines that have been girdled or treated with gibberellin to increase berry size, uniformity etc.

It may be worth remembering that the pips and skins have much of the grape's nutrition.  :happy7:

So eat, juice, or wine the choice is yours. There are plenty of naturally large bunched grape varieties for both undercover and outside.

Grapes are such a worthwhile crop to grow. Says someone with over 40 vines. :sunny:

Title: Re: Grapes
Post by: AlanP on August 06, 2015, 12:47:04

Thanks for all the replies, a wealth of information there.
All the bunches have been cut this morning and we are going to juice them, so if there is little I can do to make them bigger, next year I will leave all the bunches on and have more juice

Thanks again

Alan

Title: Re: Grapes
Post by: okra on August 06, 2015, 15:54:22

Is your juice sweet enough without the addition of some sweetener?