Critter Battles

After getting control of fungal issues with a good spray program, I'm now battling two new foes. One is a micro-critter: crown gall has affected many of the Norton and some of the other vines. And the macro-critters seem to find my grapes just as soon as the pH is above pucker. The netting we used this year seems too fragile and I've found holes where the birds or raccoons or possums got in and out. My pick decisions are driven more by how many grapes I have left after the macro-critters than any numbers.

Speaking of numbers...

	17-Aug		24-Aug		31-Aug
	Brix	pH	Brix	pH	Brix	pH
Traminette			18	2.76
Frontenac	18	2.66	21	2.97
Vidal	17	2.47	16	2.8	18.2	2.97
Chardonel	15.5	2.44	15	2.66	15	2.74
Chambourcin	13	2.37	13	2.45	14	2.76

I picked the Traminette August 29th and it was a good thing, because I got only 25# and by Aug 31st, despite netting, there was nothing left. The Foch was disappearing at a rate of 10%/day, so I picked it on August 17th at 3.09 and 18.4.  Not ideal. Today the only fruit left hanging is Chardonel, Chambourcin, and a little Norton. Next year we're planning on using the cleverly-named Aircrow.