Grapes

Our concord grape vines bushes are severely over grown.  What you don’t see behind this picture is that some of the vines have snaked their way into the brush behind them, into the back yard and up the pine tree.  We actually have Tarzan worthy vines to swing on in the back yard thanks to the grapes. 

But anyway, despite the not-so-ideal set up, there are a decent amount on grapes on the vines.   To protect them from the birds we have confined the vines behind a big net.

If this works, we should be blessed with some delicious grapes for grape jelly after the first frost.  Cross your fingers!

Grapes in the spring:

 Grapes by mid summer:

Grapes

My parents planted these concord grapes years ago.  As a child ny mom always made our grape jelly from these vines.  We mixed red and white grapes and we always have a pale purple jelly.  The jelly was delicious.  I was spoiled as a child and I still don’t care for store-bought jelly.

 These vines are terrible over grown and have NEVER been pruned.  For comparison purposes, that is my full-grown golden retriever.  These vines are monsters and have spread throughout the brush behind them.

We are trying to research pruning techniques to boast the fruit production for next year. 

 For this year, we are going to wrap the bushes to prevent the birds from devouring the little fruit we do have and maybe I’ll make a few pints of jelly! 

Does anyone have any grape pruning tips?