Anyone ever grown grapes? Question...

[cosmiccowboy]

Some of my grapes are starting to turn purple but they are still small...like a little smaller than a marble...do they "blow up" right at the end or is that just what I've got this year?...The vines are only in their second year and I didn't thin the blooms so I may have just overloaded their ability to produce...here is a picture...oh yeah...they are a hybrid of Lenoir (Black Spanish) called "Favorite"

[cosmiccowboy]

bump for the evening crowd...

[Johnny Dangerr]

dont know bump 4 u

[cosmiccowboy]

I'm thinking this crazy hot June weather (multiple 100+ and a couple at 105-106) has messed with them...

[jcar]

looks like to many clusters and not enough water

[TexasII]

Just planted grapes so I am waiting until next year to see. As far as my fruit trees they hardly produced any fruit this year. Guessing the dry weather...

[jcar]

I just reread your post. you should not let the grapes grow until the third year, the trunk needs to be bigger

[Bluesman]

My Dad and I did concord grapes for many years. Yours may get a bit bigger but not too much. The only thing I can suggest is a ton of water but it's too late this year. If you prune them too early in the fall the water will run out of the limbs in high volume.
Dad had his best results when growing in low depressions where water collected naturally. Otherwise nothing special except proper pruning. He pruned to the point of making the thing look dead.
Dad could definitely grow grapes but his wine making skills were horrible.

[Texwild]

This is my third year and they get better every year but the birds found mine this year and really tore into them before I could get some.

[cosmiccowboy]

looks like to many clusters and not enough water

I don't think water is the problem and I was actually afraid I was over watering them...I've got them on a good drip system and they have never been wilted all year.

[Fishndude]

I've smuggled grapes but never grown them.

What is the purpose of the barbed wire? Better grasp or just what you had??

[cosmiccowboy]

I just reread your post. you should not let the grapes grow until the third year, the trunk needs to be bigger

You may be right...I know in the colder climates they grow slower and three years is recommended, but my vines really went to town last year (I'm about 30 miles south of San Antonio) Here's a picture from a couple of months ago...all the trunks are at least 1"-1 1/2" and I cordon pruned them last winter to about 9 buds each side...They are really healthy vines...

[cosmiccowboy]

I've smuggled grapes but never grown them.

What is the purpose of the barbed wire? Better grasp or just what you had??

It's 2 strand slick wire...might look like barbed just because it's twisted/stretched there. That 'barb" you see in the picture is just a dried "grabber" from last years vines...

[GR5]

Can't help ya none. deer took care of mine, vines and all

[cosmiccowboy]

Can't help ya none. deer took care of mine, vines and all

Yeah, before I started I high fenced them OUT.

I hope y'all don't have moral objections to high fence wine LOL.