A few tips about vines and grapes

The best ripeness

When testing ripeness, the verdict good is usually given too soon. Even when the fruit tastes sweet, wait 10 days before harvesting. Only then are the grapes genuinely ripe.

Wasps

When wasps lay their claim to our harvest, theres no point in trying to drive them off, or in using sprays or powders, or hanging up bottles with liquid to lure them away. The only way of rescuing the harvest and retaining the unspoiled loveliness of the grapes is to use gauze bags tied to the vine stem and cut to allow for growth (plastic bags are utterly unsuitable for this purpose).

Decorative foliage

For those who appreciate decorative red foliage in autumn, it is important to bear in mind that this is only to be encountered in vines bearing black grapes.