Hmm. After a promising start in spring & early summer, the Madeleine Angevine grapes under our carport are looking distinctly sad.
This picture was taken today (9th September). Harvesting would normally be another month hence. Yet the grapes are shrivelling like raisins already. I only wish I could describe the above as an example of the 'Noble Rot'. Alas, I fear there is nothing noble about it.
Because something similar happened last year and, to a lesser extent the previous year, I embarked upon a very diligent regime of spraying with seaweed extract (for feed/pest-repellance), Epsoms salts (for magnesium deficiency) and Dithane (for mildew), at the regular recommended intervals. The flowers formed well, and the plant as a whole looked healthier than in previous seasons. Plenty of nice strong growth etc. We got through polination OK, and the grapes started to develop nicely. Then, in mid summer, the dreaded powdery coating made an appearance - on the grapes although, strangely, I haven't really noticed any on the leaves or stems. The grapes virtually stopped swelling, and darkened in colour, taking on a most unappetising dull grey hue. This is not how they should be: M Angevine is a green grape, intended for white wine.
And yet ... somehow, the grapes do seem to be quite sweet. Last year I have to admit that they made a wine that was (is) quite palatable, and with practically no need to add any sugar. But the yield was less than in other recent seasons. This year the grapes are, again, fairly sweet, but the quantity is going to be right down. Earlier, several of the developing berries dropped. I reckon the heat and drought of July/August are partly responsible. But why has it happened for three years on the trot? I'm mystified.
I know MA is susceptible to mildew, but I was optimistic that the spraying would do the trick. It's not as though the plant is young. It must now be around 15 years old, so it should be pretty deeply-rooted. It gets fed in February just like it's supposed to be, etc. Of course, the plastic of the carport roof may be partly to blame - stagnant air and all that.
Ah well. MA ain't regarded as the best producer of wines. I may take the axe to it. Replace it with a disease-resistant hybrid such as Seyve Villard which, this year, has a few nice-looking bunches on it.
Of course, there are other problems - notably wasps, snails (yes they CAN climb) and (occasionally) birds. I've netted some grapes, but this will cut down the amount of light they receive thus probably negating any advantage. Ho-hum.
Still, the Boskoop Glory looks to be doing fine. Famous last words, probably ...
BG is in fact a dessert grape, but I ignore that! The trouble is it makes a rather flabby wine. Still, it's alcoholic, which is the main thing, what. And of course, I have managed to prove that it is more than theoretically possible to produce wine from grapes as far north as Knuitsford. Also very important, that.
The tomatoes, are OK too - better late than never...
Is it just me, or do other people feel that toms are ripening later each year? Sommat odd going on there. Shouldn't global warming be bringing them on quicker?
And that reminds me - D & I went to an interesting workshop on renewables today, at Tegg's Nose Park, Macclesfield. Seems I'm at least heading in the right direction with my "wind generator" ...
Because of where it's sited (subtely hidden from view - and the wind - by a nice green screen of trees) it doesn't turn that often, even when it's windy. And it produces a meagre amount of electricity when it does - being based on a bike hub alternator producing 5W absolute MAX. But, in tandem with an 8W solar panel, an old car battery and a DIY inverter (WIRELESS-CONTROLLED), it means we can now at least power a couple of bedside lamps and a radio/CD player. From small acorns, and all that. Ah, me.
RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET opens Monday.
Yikes!
