Grape problem this year....Just me?

BigBrownDogHouse · September 29, 2011

Hi everyone!

Just a question for the folks that grow grapes in the Midwest.

I am by no means an expert. I started a grape vine about 10 years ago because I was amazed that my father-in-law had a Concord grape vine in his backyard that he did absolutely nothing to and got quite a few grapes when the squirrels didn't get to them first. Heading out to the backyard and picking a bunch of sweet grapes with the little ones was truly one of the highlights of late Summer.

A few years back I planted a few more plants on the other end of the house. Another Concord, Catawba and a Niagra.
The new Concord last year produced beautifully, nothing on the Catawba and Niagra(newer plants, I figured no problem).
My neighbor on that side of the house even commented to me that they were absolutely picture perfect grapes with a taste to match.

This year, nothing produced on the one side of the house, nothing. On my original vine that usually produces colendars full of grapes, I got some grapes but they look horrible and don't have that great Concord taste. 90% are undersized, most are shruken up and punctured which is attracting the ants.

Was this a bad grape season? The weather around these parts of the Midwest was kind of wacky this year.
Pretty cold, very wet Spring.....a Summer with long stretches of heat and then long periods of heavy rain. I know that the Summer weather wouldn't have any affect on the plants that didn't even flower but what about the original plant?

I've always heard not to water your grapes. Did the rainy weather this year do in my grapes? That's what I am thinking.

Again, I'm still a novice with this trying to learn and there is no better place than this site.

Thanks!
Brian

September 29, 2011	#1
BigBrownDogHouse Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Northern Illinois ZONE 5a...wait now 5b Posts: 906	Grape problem this year....Just me? Hi everyone! Just a question for the folks that grow grapes in the Midwest. I am by no means an expert. I started a grape vine about 10 years ago because I was amazed that my father-in-law had a Concord grape vine in his backyard that he did absolutely nothing to and got quite a few grapes when the squirrels didn't get to them first. Heading out to the backyard and picking a bunch of sweet grapes with the little ones was truly one of the highlights of late Summer. A few years back I planted a few more plants on the other end of the house. Another Concord, Catawba and a Niagra. The new Concord last year produced beautifully, nothing on the Catawba and Niagra(newer plants, I figured no problem). My neighbor on that side of the house even commented to me that they were absolutely picture perfect grapes with a taste to match. This year, nothing produced on the one side of the house, nothing. On my original vine that usually produces colendars full of grapes, I got some grapes but they look horrible and don't have that great Concord taste. 90% are undersized, most are shruken up and punctured which is attracting the ants. Was this a bad grape season? The weather around these parts of the Midwest was kind of wacky this year. Pretty cold, very wet Spring.....a Summer with long stretches of heat and then long periods of heavy rain. I know that the Summer weather wouldn't have any affect on the plants that didn't even flower but what about the original plant? I've always heard not to water your grapes. Did the rainy weather this year do in my grapes? That's what I am thinking. Again, I'm still a novice with this trying to learn and there is no better place than this site. Thanks! Brian __________________ Brian