In article ,
zxcvbob wrote:

PhoenixWench wrote:
I live in the Catskills, zone 5, and there were several wild grape vines
on the property when I moved in. Up till now I have simply clipped them
back and used the vines for decorative wreaths, because the grapes are
horrendously tart.

What I was wondering is whether it is possible, by feeding and nurture,
to make them produce more palatable fruit? I also have 6 apple trees
which had been untended so long they were nearly crabbed. Six years of
feeding and care have brought them back to nearly perfect producers (I
am strictly organic and don't mind a little discoloration on my apples -
they taste great!).

I realize the cases are different - the apple trees always had the
capability of producing large luscious fruit with proper care. I don't
particularly *need* the grapes or I would buy a few cultivated vines,
I'm just curious. Can wild grapes be persuaded to do the same, or should
I forget it and just keep harvesting the vines for crafts?

Thanks,
Sylvia


With proper pruning and feeding, you can probably get a much bigger
crop... of sour grapes. :-) That's not totally a bad thing because tart
grapes make better jelly than sweet ones.

Bob

I'm with Bob on this. When the vines go dormant, prune and leave no more
than 24 buds. Native grapes haven't appealed to wine drinkers, in
general, so I would recommend the fresh fruit, jelly, and dolma route
with these vines.
--
³When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist.²
-Archbishop Helder Camara

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