I’m happy with my grape harvest this year, and surprised they did so well considering we didn’t have more than 2 or 3 days without rain until Sept. But it was very warm. We’ve had many hard frosts starting the first of Sept., before berries were ripe. But this year we covered with a large tarp and that worked. So a few days ago I harvested my Marquette - 6#, Prairie Star - 1#, and King of North - 7# (one vine each, 4 yrs old). Marq. wasn’t quite as strongly flavored as last year, likely due to the rain, but pleasant. PS is a petite vine but the fruit ripens earliest and is nicely sweet. I hope it ups its quantity in the future, though it does tend to get overrun by vigorous Marq. KoN I was going to remove, it’s way too vigorous for the small space it has, but it ripened so well this year and it does have that very strong “welch’s grape juice” aroma, color, flavor (in a not so sweet way). But it did have a bit of black rot, though not much (picked off leaves and berries affected early) considering this blighty year. Many leaves of all had something or other. But very good fruit overall. Juice now in jars in the pantry waiting for apple cider to mix with (my favorite).
Bluebell has beautiful large fruit, as usual, but not quite ripe. Looks like it’ll make it though, maybe next week. No bird damage so I’m comfortable letting it hang awhile more. The birds apparently prefer the large Autumn Olive crop nearby, thank goodness.
Brianna and Sommerset planted this spring grew well. Brianna very vigorous and may be more leaf disease. We’ll see how that goes. But Sommerset looks great. Moderately vigorous (suits my space better) and healthy. Made it to the top wire! Can’t wait for a harvest. Meantime I’ll just drool over Jesse and others photos.
