Harvest Update

8-24-2011  Picked most of the DeChaunac and about half of the Frontenac.  DeChaunac were getting eaten by something, birds probably, and the Frontenac was looking pretty ripe.  Picked 15 lb. 5 oz. of just grapes.  This made about 1 1/2 gallons.

8-27  Picked all of the Aurore, of which there was little, the small couple of bunches of Cayuga Whites, 8 grapes from Moore's Diamond (birds got the rest) and some of the Niagara, enough to make about 2 3/4 quarts of pure juice.

All vines are covered, but birds, apparently, are still getting in at night.  I do not see them in there during the day and the electric fence is keeping raccoons out, so I can only guess that it is birds roosting and feeding there at night.
Nortons are ripening nicely, and the concords are getting good color though they still have a ways to go.

Getting close!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

Grapes are getting close.  I tested several varieties that are soon to be harvested.  I used my economy refractometer.  Here are the results:
Niagaras:  11.6, 10.8, 12.6

DeChaunac:  13

Aurore: 13

Frontenac:  16

Aurore I won't be harvesting.  Niagaras and the reds I'll monitor closely.  I have netting on them and the electric fence up, but will still watch for scavengers.  It looks like Frontenac will be ready a bit before the DeChaunac, and I want to combine them.  I may have to crush the frontenacs and get the juice from them and save it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DeChaunac

 

As you can see above, there is still some greater variation in the DeChaunac grapes.  Still, perhaps the end of next week I can pick the Frontenac and early next week perhaps the other reds.
The Niagaras are just beginning to get that soft, luminous glow that means they are ripening.  It will be a couple weeks before they are ready, though, as long as disease and animals don't start in on them.
The Nortons are just starting to show some color.  They're looking good and I should get a gallon off them this year--excited about that!

Nortons

 

 

I still need to put netting on the concords and the short row of Nortons.  I'll do that early next week.atten
We  attended the Wine Experience at the Iowa State Fair on Tuesday, as volunteers.  It was a lot of work but a great deal of fun as well.  We were glad to be able to help out.  There were quite a number of people who came through Grandfather's Barn and participated in the grape stomp.   I think we are quite likely to do it again.