The vines seem, for the most part, to have done really well on our little slope. When I removed the grow tubes we found several vines had set fruit. These grapes, Foch, are a smaller variety and seedy, but rich and sweet. We didn’t have enough for a full bottle, but the first year is all about root development. The fruit comes later. And then the wine. But in between somewhere comes all the learning about the process and yeasts and barrels and so much more it makes my head spin some days. Other days, I’m all like, “Whatever! Pfffssssh. Our ancestors living in grass huts could do it, I’m sure we can figure something out.”
I still really really really want to put in a trellis system this Fall. I just want to get it done and check it off the list. One less thing to worry about next Spring.
In other garden news, there are at least two good-sized luffa gourds, several crown of thorn gourds, so many awesome looking squashes, and we are finally harvesting and freezing a bunch of cherry tomatoes. And speaking of tomatoes… I received a bootleg package of heirloom tomato seeds via Doug Smith that I am nerdishly excited about. Some call them Neal’s $8 tomatoes since a single tomato sold for that much at the farmers market in Texas. I’m not sure that price would work well here in Iowa, but I haven’t tasted these yet.
