On 5 Jun 2004 15:46:13 -0700, (simy1) wrote:

It is June and both my Concord grape stands ( 2 plants one, four
plants another, separated by 300 ft) have not leafed out yet. They
have few shoots and a few leaves that are brown, have many holes, and
have shrivelled. Now due to a series of circumstances I ended up
pruning them in early march, so they bled, and a hard frost in late
april killed whatever was coming up. But the kiwis got the same
treatment, bled much more, and are as rampant as ever. I inspected the
woods and saw less grapevines and some with similar symptoms. It has
to be a disease. Any idea? They have always been strong, healthy
plants.

Don't know where you are.. because I have NO memory.. sorry about
that. My grapes are growing madly, but I have noticed that the first
leaves on my canadice out front were all speckled brown, but the
leaves that have grown since look ok so far anyway.

I don't know what happened to the first leaves,.. late frost..don't
know. As long as the newer leaves don't start showing up with the
speckles.. I won't worry too much.

As to your Concords, without knowing where you are or at least the
average day/night temps, it would be hard to tell what's going on.
However, unless you're way north, it sounds like there is something
going on that's not good.

I am always late pruning.. since the "proper pruning time" is mid
February I guess. I'm not going out there in February..well.. more I
can't persuade anyone else to go out there then, since I can't do much
in the way of work. But, I *did* go out to a chair on a piece of
plywood next to some of the more overgrown Himrod grapes and selected
old wood to cut out to reduce some of the contorted growth,a nd just
to reduce the growth! Those things put on 20 + feet of growth a year.

Mine drip drip drip every year, and they seem none the worse for the
wear, and the birds appreciate the drink when it's not rained too much
most years. It's been so unseasonably warm the past few years, I
could have planted and harvested some things before I should even get
the stuff planted in "normal" years. It was HOT early this spring,
then got cold a week or two before Memorial day, now it's HOT again

If the Concords are still bleeding they're alive. If they got frosted
recently, they have 2 sets of buds.. well flower buds at least.. I
read somewhere. Maybe leaves too.

Humm re-read your post.. it's been awhile since that frost, and still
nothing. Have you gone out and checked some stems.. bent to see if
they're still supple? Cut through some vines to see if they're still
showing the inner green ring, indicating life?

I'd call the local agricultural extension agent and see if they're
getting other calls about grapes in your area. Or.. do you know of
others nearby who also have grapes? If so, are theirs growing and
well or having problems too?

Hope you get some answers, and I'd like to know what they are. I've
noticed little spots on my grapes off and on, and have been concerned
that there may be a rust of something on them, but they always seem to
do ok, bear large crops and come back each year.

I know there is anthracnose in my yard and there are other "wilts" but
not sure how they'd show up in a grape vine.

Janice