Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with grapes

How I get rid of a Phylloxera grapevine infestation?

pluckysparrow — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:07:26 -0800

(Amature Viticulture filter)...What do I do to get rid of a Phylloxera infestation? I have 2 grapevines growing in my backyard. They are both concord type grapes and were already growing and well established prior to the purchase of the property. One of the grape vines has what looks like a very bad Phylloxera infestation. The leaves are covered in hundreds of raised bumps and curling inwards.

Most of the advice on Phylloxera that I'm finding online tends to be directed towards folks who own vineyards and suggests grafting resistant varieties onto the infested vine. They also suggest pesticides, which we'd prefer to avoid.

How do I get rid of the infestation? Do I need to destroy the whole plant? I'd hate for the infestation to spread to other local grape growers. Also, as the leaves will be dying back soon, what do I do with them after they fall? We usually haul our yard and garden waste to the local landfill where it is composted, but obviously, I don't want to spread Phylloxera everywhere.

In Vino Victory?

Asparagirl — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:16:06 -0800

Novice vintner seeks help turning backyard harvest of organically grown Chardonnay grapes into decent homemade wine. The small, sweet, seedy green grapes covering the sunny north wall of my Los Angeles garden seem to be ready for harvest. The grapevine pre-dates my ownership of the house, but based on the grapes' physical characteristics and the preponderance of grape varieties sold at plant nurseries around here, I'm pretty sure they're Chardonnay grapes. They taste fine right off the vine as table grapes, but they have a lot of seeds, so I'm thinking that making either grape jellies or wine is the better way to go here.

I don't own any wine-making equipment and don't know where I should go to get some. Should I look for a pre-packaged starter kit or a more do-it-yourself model? Know any good books or sites to read for advice? And I'm not a wine snob, by any means -- I just want to turn this into something decently drinkable so I can point to an actual bottle of wine and say "hey, I made that!" So the aged oak casks probably aren't necessary.

Finally, I should mention that the grapevine isn't that big -- it has somewhere between 60-80 grape clusters, I think. How much wine can you really get out of that?

The Ghost of Tom Joad, on Stage

thanotopsis — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:25:36 -0800

Trying to track down a DVD or a digital download of the filmed version of the Steppenwolf production of The Grapes of Wrath. My Google-Fu will, at the most, give me some still images from the play (from what looks to be a video tape), and the name of the production company (FNM Films).

It looks like I can watch the Henry Fonda version for free on Google Video, but I'm specifically trying to find the Gary Sinise version.

Exciting food combinations?

Rinku — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:57:51 -0800

Grapes in milk... now what? Recently, someone recommended that I try putting grapes in milk and drinking / eating it. It was more delicious than I expected. Are there any other unusual / unexpectedly delicious food combinations that might make our super boring dining hall more of an adventure? A delicious adventure?

Let's grow grape vines in Washinton!

guruguy9 — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:47:11 -0800

What wine grapes (if any) would grow successfully just outside of Kelso, Washington? Ideally, they would be low maintenance as far as grapes go. Would be looking to graft 2 or 3 year old plants. It's cold in the winter, hot in the summer and wet all the time.

Grape testing

Juicylicious — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:37:59 -0800

Is it unethical to try ONE grape at the grocery store in order to determine whether to buy a bag?

Grapevine killer?

maggieb — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:18:28 -0800

Did I kill a hundred-year-old grapevine? Can I fix it? I was clearing out a fence line and inadvertently chopped off two new shoots from the main trunk of an old white grapevine. The ends began dropping sap at 3-4 drops per second. I tried glueing and cauterizing with no effect.

What should I have done to stay the flow?

How far can I chop a grapevine?

chococat — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 14:04:28 -0800

We have old, old grape vines in our backyard, growing on a pergola-type structure that is completely rotten and is falling down. It is an overhead structure which gives awesome shade in the summer, but it isn't safe and needs to go. How do I save the vines? We'd love to save the grapevines. Some guys are coming tomorrow to tear down the rotting wood and pipe structure, but we can't build anything new until the spring. I guess my question is how much of the grape vine can I chop off without killing the vines? We were hoping to cut off as much as possible and sort of prop up the rest until the spring.

Can I replant mature blueberry and grape plants?

jdroth — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 08:04:15 -0800

My neighbor has many mature blueberry and grape plants. Because he's rearranging things on his property, he's offered me some of the plants *if* I dig and move them myself. Is this possible? Is it practical? Is there some mechanized device that I can rent, borrow, or buy to make the job easier? Bonus question: I just chopped down three youngish Locusts, the largest of which had a trunk maybe six inches in diameter. What's the best way to remove the stumps so that I can plant fruit trees in their place?

Why do grapes and peaches shrivel in different ways?

nedrichards — Tue, 10 Feb 2004 11:51:08 -0800

Why do grapes and peaches shrivel in different ways? Is it to do with the type of skin? The surface area? Water content? Or the size of their stone? Any ideas gratefully received.