Very Cool, Then Very Hot August

I picked the Reliance seedless, a few aurore, and the frontenac gris I let grow this year.  I blended them with a few of the white Concords, which have never done well before but have a great, fruity taste this year and have been very free of disease.  So I made a gallon from that and had enough to make another gallon, plus a quart of juice, from the white Concords.  It will be interesting to see how the flavor  compares with the Niagaras, which I plan to pick this Thursday, the 29th.  I got readings with the refractometer anywhere from 15 to 18.  I'd let them go a bit longer if I had the time and if the birds would stay off them, but the birds are starting to work on them.  There were honey bees on the damaged grapes, the first time I've seen this.  It has to be due to the extreme dryness we've had.  I'll harvest the grapes, steam them and save the juice until I can turn it into wine.
So far, I have one gallon of blueberry, a gallon of white blended, which may have a bit of a rose color when finished, and a gallon of concord white.  Another two to three gallons of Niagara would be great.
As for reds, the frontenac and St. Croix are about ready and I may be able to do something with them early next week.  Nortons are pretty much a wash this year.  I may or may not do some De Chaunac. I haven't ever been very happy with the wine from that grape unfortunately.

Spraying June 7

Captan and Quintec. 
Noted some brown areas on some leaves, particularly Nortons.
Grape harvest will be really low this year.  Wonder if that is a widespread situation across the state.

Spray, Wed. May 29

Captan, mancozeb, quintec.
It's been raining almost daily, with flooding likely.  The grapes continue to vary greatly in their development.  They look good at this point as far as disease goes, but it will be a small harvest.  Still impressed with the virility of the Frontenac Gris.  It is growing like crazy.  I left a few grapes just to see how they will do and respond to disease/treatment.

Spraying May 21, 2013

Captan, Mancozeb, Nova

Shoots are very varied on the plants.  Some buds are just now breaking out on branches I had thought were dead while others have shoots now 4-6 inches.  Have definitely lost two Cayuga whites, with the third showing growth only at the base.  I'll let it grow and trim off the dead but will not replant this variety since it really seemed to grow very slowly and a harsh winter did them in.  Compared to the Frontenac gris, which are 2 years old and very vigorous.  If the grapes, of which I'll let a few develop this year, show promise I may replant with two more of those.

Spray May 14, 2013

Mancozeb, Nova and Captan.
Still looks like 2 Cayuga whites are gone.  One has a little bud down near the base of the plant.  Several have apparently dead large arms that will need to be trimmed off later.
Love this time of the year, though, with the grapes trimmed and new shoots emerging.  The vineyard is clean and pretty.

May 7, 2013

Real mix on bud break.  Frontenac gris looking good, half inch shoots.  Many still just at bud break or not even quite to that point.  What a contrast with last year at this time.
Sprayed today:  mix of captan, copper, mancozeb.  Will plan to repeat in 7 days.
Looks like I have maybe lost 4 vines:  2 cayuga whites, one aurore and one de chaunac.  One of the older nigaras looks really bad, very few buds.  Tough winter.  Will try to replace mostly with niagaras.

2012 activity

March 21. Applied lime sulfur spray. Some bud break but still applied in near dormant strength. Have seen no evidence of damage.

April 1 (approx). Applied roundup. Moderately effective.

April 6. Applied nova, mancozeb and Captan. Some shoots, as on de Chaunac, about one and a half inches

April 24  Similar application.  Frost damage on most vines, esp. de Chaunac which suffered better than 50% loss of early grapes.  All vines show some shoots, though buds still breaking on most plants.

May 3  Quintec, Captan and Mancozeb.  Probably the last application of mancozeb,  especially if there is an early harvest.  Niagaras are coming on nicely and the Cayuga Whites look good.  Need to thin out some clusters on those since they are just 3 year plants.  Some others need thinning as well.

May 14  Quintec and Captan.  Removed broken twigs (deer have really been after some of the top new shoots.  I've lost even more grapes now.)  We will have a harvest, but it will pale in comparison with last year's.
I added bentonite to the Niagara since it just has not cleared up very well yet.  I'm dubious about this working well.

May 26  Nova, Captan and sulphur.  I used the minimal amount of sulfur.  We'll see if there is any damage to the plants.

June 4  Quintec and Copper.  Some possible burning of new leaves from the sulfur on the Nortons.  Otherwise, no apparent damage.  Trying the copper this time.  Again, 2 oz per gallon.  Plants are looking good, more grapes than I had thought.  Since there are some larger grapes as well as very small, 2nd bloomers, I'll need to decide which to thin and when.  Need to research that. 
Bad news:  first Japanese beetles of the season.  Way too early.