The Proper Way To Harvest Grapes
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a commercial vineyard farmer with rows and rows of grape vines, or a simple backyard fan who loves growing grapes as a hobby, you need to know when and how to harvest grapes. No one wants to go through all that work, only to realize that the grapes haven’t ripened properly yet or the process was done incorrectly and the entire crop is ruined. You won’t have the option of going back and doing it over so you need to get it right on the first try.
Obviously you can’t harvest grapes that aren’t mature yet, and no one would want to. The problem lies in figuring out exactly when this has happened. Generally, most types of grapes ripen in the cooler autumn months. The range goes from August to October, depending on the type of grape you’re growing. Most people look for a color change as the major sign of ripening. In some varieties though, the color changes can be so subtle that you may miss it altogether. That’s why there are a few things you need to look out for, not just one. These include:
· Major color changes of the grapes, such as from green to deep blue.
· Color changes in the seeds from green to brown.
· No more growth in the size of grapes.
· Grapes become sweet, which you’ll have to test by either tasting or purchasing a refractometer that can measure the actual sugar content.
Once you’re sure that the grapes are in fact mature, it’s time to harvest them. You can harvest grapes in one of two ways: by hand or by machine. Some people think that hand harvesting is only done when there are small number of vines. This is not so. Quite a few commercial grape farmers wouldn’t dream of letting machines anywhere near their precious fruits. Machine harvesting is faster, of course, and may be the only option if weather conditions don’t permit the more time intensive hand harvesting. If you are going to hand harvest grapes, you’ll need to follow these steps:
- You’ve got to decent weather if you’re going to harvest grapes, and this means a sunny day. This also means the potential for sunburns. Make sure that you protect yourself with proper clothing and sun block.
- You’ll also need a good pair of shears. This means one that’s sharp. Well oiled and fits into your hand comfortably. Shears that are too bulky will very likely damage your hands, even though you’re wearing gloves (you are wearing gloves, right?).
- You’ve got to be careful that you don’t damage the stem when you’re clipping off the grape bunches from the vine. Gently pull the bunch away from the vine and clip, leaving a little bit of the stem so you can easily handle the grapes afterwards.
- Place the grapes on a tray, making sure not to overload it. Try to keep them covered and out of direct sunlight since they will spoil easily.
After you’re finished harvesting the grapes, you need to ensure that they’re kept in a cool place. If this is done, they can last for as much as week, providing you can keep your hands off of them for that long. It can be very tempting for the backyard farmer to eat all of them as is, but save a few for some jams, jellies or other grape goodies.Remember that, as much as you’ve worked hard and kept your vines healthy, it really comes down to when you harvest grapes. The quality of your grapes and any associated products depend on it more than anything else. The difference between a great crop and a failed one can be as simple as harvesting at the wrong time.
Tags: backyard farmer, crop, grape, grape vines, grapes, hand harvesting, harvest, Harvest grapes, harvesting, ripen, shears, vineyard
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