Grapes worked THIS year

[ducks4you]

thanks, vfem!!
2010 Harvest made up for the lack of one in 2009. Apparently, by severely pruning in March, 2009, I made them all healthier. Give me a few days to find this gardening book that suggests pruning all but 4 shoots from the main stem. The author says to prune in March, and look for the buds on that year's shoots. Further, you are to count the buds, and save the shoots with the most buds. According to the author you will get fewer but better grapes.

I feel like the "little red hen" harvesting this stuff. I am about 1/4 done harvesting, and have 10 bags frozen, which measure about 2 quarts each.
Yesterday, I stayed home to ready for my big garage sale. I cleaned out the older upright freezer (which had to be de-frosted)--great day to do so, with 91 degrees F for a high, and no cloud cover--so I can stuff it with my vegetable and fruits harvesting.

 

[vfem]

Can I ask how you went about freezing your grapes?

 

[ducks4you]

I have frozen them before, and I'm not careful. I just use one gallon plastic food storage bags, and tie a knot at the end. You can see the air pocket in the bags. Even after being in the freezer for ONE YEAR, I was able to make some grapes into jelly in the past. I'm not planning on letting this group sit that long, however. I think if you're concerned you could double bag them, this way. I am double-bagging my okra.
I have also frozen them inside of plastic 5-quart ice cream containers. WalMart is now selling their generic ice cream in rectangular plastic containers and they stack easily, and insulate very well.

 

[vfem]

I have frozen them before, and I'm not careful. I just use one gallon plastic food storage bags, and tie a knot at the end. You can see the air pocket in the bags. Even after being in the freezer for ONE YEAR, I was able to make some grapes into jelly in the past. I'm not planning on letting this group sit that long, however. I think if you're concerned you could double bag them, this way. I am double-bagging my okra.
I have also frozen them inside of plastic 5-quart ice cream containers. WalMart is now selling their generic ice cream in rectangular plastic containers and they stack easily, and insulate very well.

Now I saw a recipe in mother earth for grapes as juice concentrate. They mashed up a bunch of grapes and 1/2 filled a 1/2 pint jar. Then heated some Sugar syrup on the stove. 3 cups sugar to 3 cups water... more or less as you need. Then fill the jars of mashed grapes with 1/4" head space. Then lid and waterbath for 15 minutes to store. Then empty 1 jar into a gallon container through some cheese cloth to filter out little bits. Mix with cold water and you have a gallon of grape juice. I am going to try this after I go visit my neighbor and get some of his concords from his vines before they go bad.

 

[ducks4you]

Sounds worth trying. Last time I made jelly, I boiled the grapes, whole without any sugar, then used a "separater"?--I'm sure you have one, just can't remember what it's called--you crank the handle around, like one of those salad spinners, and it separates the skins and seeds from the juice.

There are two BIG reasons, however, that I freeze the grapes.
1) WAY to much stuff to harvest right now
and
2) Making grape anything in a closed up house just makes the house smell great!!