Discussions

What do people do with their grapes? I have no idea what type they are, but small and really purple. My brother in law picked a huge tub of them from his vines. I tried juicing them, but the juice is really sour. I will make a batch of jelly, but a person only needs so much jelly LOL.

They’re probably valiant grapes (lots of seeds with a little more Concordy taste?) Can’t find the link right now but there’s a process you go through with boiling, mashing and cheesecloth that makes a juice that we love that also combines well with pectin for a great jelly. Downside is the stains… grape juice of course is very persistent!  
 
Last winter we didn’t pick them down and left them on with intention of dealing with in the spring. Turned out to be a fun non-decision when a huge flock of like 100+ waxwings came along and slowly picked our vines bare over the course of a day. Was one of the better in-person nature shows we’ve had outside of a zoo!

Grape vines had massive grapes also, ended up calling Fruit Share/Samaritan House at 204-727-7857 (Kathy), they were elated to pick them and share them with many hungry people and those who can't afford to buy much food. They also picked my over abundant of rhubarb.  
Wonderful, nice people  
Oh and they will also take/come pick any extra garden and fruit , sad to see some apple trees with many fruit on ground rotting when could be helping some fill some tummmies  
 
Edited by HAGD, 2022-10-13 10:40:18

a great idea!

Pick, sweeten and make your own juice.  
 
Apparently you can not buy grape juice in the stores anymore. Welch's does not sell grape juice now.

Yes, it does sound like Valiant grapes!  
Going through the juicer there is a lot of sediment which rises to the top, then I poured off the good juice. I guess I can just add sugar to taste, if the juice is too sour, LOL.