I've heard of Christmas in July, but Halloween in August? I mean isn't that a sheet hanging there? Is it supposed to look like a ghost?
Well, that's not exactly what is going on here. I was just trying a quick save for the grapes on my vines at our new place. When I googled how to keep the birds from eating my grapes, I saw paper bags stapled around clusters of grapes, or delicate mesh bags tied neatly with a bow on each. I DON'T have time for that! So, what am I going to do?
I thought of the old sheets that I had been saving for a paint project and of the old long tablecloth from church, and I toted them out to the edge of the lot. Is it a grape arbor? I don't know. Looks a lot like two old clothesline posts with old clothesline running between them to me. But it has held up the grapevines that haven't been trimmed in who knows when. The long tablecloth and the queen size sheet worked well at covering the vine except a little on the end. I decided to try a sheer curtain and some screens to finish protecting and to cover all the way to the ground. Well, all in all it worked pretty well at saving my grapes. My ghostly sheet, curtain, tablecloth, screen apparatus.
The grapes may have ripened a little slower under the sheet, and tablecloth. I don't think the sheer curtain would make any difference in the speed of ripening. A disadvantage of the screens were that sometimes the wind blew them down in spite of the cloths overlapping the top. That is all it takes for the mocking birds to take advantage of the situation and have a happy picnic. Hurry and put them back up!
I'm going to stay on the lookout at the thrift stores and garage sales for more sheer curtains and maybe stake them down next year. Because I sure do enjoy eating these grapes!
Harvest/Storage https://www.almanac.com/plant/grapes?
If grapes aren’t ripening, pinch back some of the foliage to let in more sunlight.
Grapes will not continue ripening once picked from the vine. Test a few to see if they are to your liking before harvesting, usually in late summer or early fall.
Grapes are ripe and ready to harvest when they are rich in color, juicy, full-flavored, easily crushed but not shriveled, and plump. They should be tightly attached to the stems. Sample different grapes from different clusters, and the taste should be between sweet and tart. Check our ripeness guide for more tips on color.
Grapes can be stored for up to six weeks in the cellar, but grapes can absorb the odors of other fruits and vegetables, so keep them separate. Use cardboard boxes or crates lined with clean, dry straw. Separate bunches with straw or sawdust. Check often for spoilage.
See our article on making jams and jellies with fruit from your garden.
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