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Welcome to my Western Pennsylvania garden. Join me on a "Walk Down the Garden Path".

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Grapey Goodness!




One of the pleasant benefits of our property are the grapes which grow wild up in the back. I'm not sure what kind they are exactly, but I think they are a type of concord grape. Of course, since they grow high, high, up in the trees, we need to be giants in order to pick and enjoy them. We were able to find a few low hanging ones, which we quickly picked. These do have seeds, so not so great for just eating. Instead, we put them on the stove with some water, smashed them up, and then strained them, to yield some lovely, grapey juice. This was strong, concentrated grape so we added water to make it a good drinking consistency. My husband can drink it just like this. I find it a little sour, so I add a little Splenda to mine.






One of our plans is to take cuttings from these vines and bring them closer to the ground. Then maybe we will be able to harvest enough to make some wine - yum!

9 comments:

Gail said...

Wow, it looks really thick! Once you are able to get more of them...your cuttings will grow...you'll be able make jams and all kinds of delicious foods!

We have grape vines all over, I haven't seen or smelled ripening grapes!

gail

Anonymous said...

Yum-yum! Just thinkng about all the grape things you could make. ;)

tina said...

Yummmmm! I wish I had some grapes like these. They are so fun! Homemade grape juice-what can be better?

Rose said...

I didn't know grapes would grow so high up; wonder how they got there?
I hope you can take some cuttings and plant them in a better place--that grape juice looks yummy, and homemade grape jam sounds delicious!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I hope you can get those cuttings as those are some good looking grapes! Do you have an idea as to how old they are? Just wondering since you said they grow so high up.

Cindy said...

Gail ~ Grapes do have a distinctive ripening smell don't they. These warm days have really brought it out, up in our woods.

PGL ~ If only I could reach more grapes. We may have to try and take the lawn tractor up there and we may be able to reach a few more.

Tina ~ It's really great being able to have something totally homemade to drink.

Rose ~ I don't know if they were low to the ground years and years ago and have just grown up the trees to reach the sun or why they are so high up there. And you really don't need that many grapes to get a fair bit of juice.

Cynthia ~ No idea on the age. We've lived here 6 years and they were always like that for us. I'm hoping our cuttings will be successful. Of course, I promise to document it on this blog :)

DP Nguyen said...

They do look like concord grapes. You could make jam or jelly or wine! Yummy! I hate that concords have big seeds, but you can do so much with them.

Anonymous said...

Hello!
My mom used to take that kind of grapes and can them. I don't remember the details, but it was about 1/3 grapes and the rest of the jar was water. Then during winter she would open a can, strain it, and have fresh grape juice. Terrific stuff!

Cindy said...

DP ~ They are concords. And yes, despite the seeds they are so versatile.

Jendi ~ Welcome and thanks for sharing that great memory!