Baby grapes falling off

I recently moved into a new place with a very different grape vines. Some are young vines, two others are very old and established.

On the younger vines, almost all of the baby grapes have fallen off. Now, I'm noticing them starting on the larger vines.

Anyone know what may be the catalyst? Too much water? Too hot?

Thanks

I've had this happen with wild grapes.

1. Did you see pollinators visiting the flowers? The plant makes fruit to spread seed. Dropping any fruit that didn't get pollinated appears from my observations to be part of the equation.
2. Were the plants stressed last fall and this spring? They weather may be telling the plant it's not a good year to put that much energy into fruit?

You know, I think I made a mistake. I didn't realize that grapes, like all other fruits, flowered. These are just the flower pedals dropping. I thought they were the actual grapes drying out. This is my first time seeing grapes develop at this stage. Guess I thought that they just magically appear without needing flowers or pollinators.

Appreciate it.

Barhos Na wrote:This is my first time seeing grapes develop at this stage. Guess I thought that they just magically appear without needing flowers or pollinators.  

It's really quite amazing when you start to look at real plants/shrubs/vines/trees and see all the different ways they reproduce! I'd taken Biology at high school and first year University, but there are so many differences and subtleties that I've only learned since planting edible plants on my property.

Some plants are wind pollinated, some bees, some a raft of other insects. Some plants *have* to have a different variety to cross pollinate with, and several plants known for their nutritious products, need male and female plants ( Seaberry, Monkey Puzzle, and Ginkgo biloba all grow on my property).

So much to observe and learn and you've come to a great place to do just that. I should have noticed in your pictures that I could see the small nubs of baby grapes coming on the clusters, but we've had weird weather this spring, and I've seen so few pollinators buzzing around, that I've got that on my mind!

Barhos Na wrote:You know, I think I made a mistake. I didn't realize that grapes, like all other fruits, flowered. These are just the flower pedals dropping. I thought they were the actual grapes drying out. This is my first time seeing grapes develop at this stage. Guess I thought that they just magically appear without needing flowers or pollinators.

Appreciate it.

I think you're correct - all those tiny, green nubs look like baby grapes, to me.

We moved to a new property last summer and it had so many established fruit trees on it. It really is amazing to see everything flower and develop into fruit in the spring. This first year is such a big learning process for me and next year I'll much less confused about what's happening with everything :)

have you ever seen grapes on those vines? I have vines and leaves that look exactly like that on  my property. when I first moved in I was sure they were grape vines. they did the same exact thing as yours and looked exactly the same. in the spring leaves came out and grapes started to form then the "grapes" fell off and the vine grew at least 20' each season.  it covered over the side of my house. till I cut it all down last winter. I'm not sure what I got that looks and acts exactly like grapes but isn't grapes and  is as a aggressive and invasive as kudzu

Hi Bruce,

Yes, last summer when we moved in the grapes were already starting to ripen. Harvested many pounds of beautiful and delicious grapes.
Your vine sounds very odd.

Barhos Na wrote: Harvested many pounds of beautiful and delicious grapes.

Just incase you need help finding uses for them all:
I have made my own "raisins" but cutting our grapes in half and taking out the seeds. They don't turn out like commercial grapes, but they're great in baking. Yes - it is time consuming, but it's also an excuse to sit down! I made some from grapes that we think are some sort of Merlot grape (a friend's dad planted the vine decades ago) and they are awesome in a cake I make with pumpkin and a variety of dried fruit.

I've also made grape "jam" as opposed to the more typical "jelly". I have a friend who insisted she hates grape jelly who thought as a jam with a unique blend of unusual grapes, it was delicious and could she have another jar!

We made raisins last year with them. We have two seedless varieties that turned out well. The rest we eat fresh and bag and put in the freezer for smoothies.