by Gerald_Waving my Freak-flag High Brewster
Member since:
February 18, 2007

Concord Grapes Already?--Spring in California

February 05, 2009 01:51 PM EST (Updated: February 09, 2009 01:42 AM EST)
views: 140 | comments: 39

Here it is, only February 5th, and already California's springtime weather is encouraging my Concord grapevines to begin the new growing season.  These babies are only about 4-5 seasons old, and in oak half-barrels that once held Bordeaux wine in France, but they still manage to produce fruit, if only in miniscule quantities, but I'm hoping that quantity will increase this season--in any amount, though, their flavor is unbeatable!  ~  LEICA V-LUX 1
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Comments: 39

Connie L. Feb 5, 2009, 1:54pm EST
thanks for this information
Sheila J. Feb 5, 2009, 3:43pm EST
Oh, this gives me hope that we might see spring someday here in Michigan too! Thanks for sharing!
Mooch -. Feb 5, 2009, 3:44pm EST
I thought the vineyards were in jeopardy of diappearing in California, at least that's what one of Barry's cronies has said.
Karen G. Feb 5, 2009, 3:57pm EST
Wacky weather gives weird results
Teresa A. Feb 5, 2009, 4:09pm EST
How early is this? We have two feet of snow and won't have trees budding out until May........
Denise W. Feb 5, 2009, 4:13pm EST
I just hope the weather does not turn cold. Our apricot tree has leaves already.
Nancy Biri Feb 5, 2009, 4:47pm EST
Thanks for sharing
Angela A. Feb 5, 2009, 4:50pm EST
Yeah for grapes!!
Tamara L~will view, may comment~ S. Feb 5, 2009, 4:56pm EST
I love grapes. Nice post.
Nah! This is not unusual for the Bay Area--the thermometer very rarely drops below freezing. Actually, it is COLDER than usual.
Dorothy H. Feb 5, 2009, 7:20pm EST
Thanks for sharing!
Lin B. Feb 5, 2009, 7:37pm EST
Thanks for sharing...Blessings
((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))
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Jan S. Feb 5, 2009, 8:05pm EST
Tiny sprigs of hope! Thanks for sharing.

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Beth G. Feb 5, 2009, 10:04pm EST
wow these are cool pictures! Thanks for sharing!
Renee (Pres of Baby James Foundation) ~. Feb 5, 2009, 10:51pm EST
I am ready for Spring for sure now.
Nanina Hawk Feb 5, 2009, 11:51pm EST
This means spring is not far behind, I love watching how your grapes grow through the season.
Elizabeth A. Feb 6, 2009, 12:03am EST
Ahhh just thinking of your sweet succulent treasures makes me feel warm! Grapes, grapes glorious concord grapes! Thanks, Gerald.
Georgiana S. Feb 6, 2009, 3:02am EST
I have one concord grape vine, it produces about two bunches a year, the birds and rodents steal the rest!
Georgiana, I've been told by several people that the vines won't produce fruit when in planters, that they must be in the ground to make grapes, and that's why I bought the largest planters I could fit on my back porch (the only space over which I have any control) --I figured these wine half-barrels would give the roots plenty of room--it's a compromise, but the vines are producing SOME grapes, but not a lot. I can't buy Concords in any markets that are near me in Northern California, and they taste so much better than the types available in local stores, I figured a little bit is better than none at all.
Carolion Grailbear Feb 6, 2009, 10:17pm EST
You might want to find some way to COOL the roots more. If the grapes were planted with roots in actual ground, they'd be reaching down toward cooler levels.
tomi r. Feb 6, 2009, 10:56pm EST
Come on Spring.
Makes sense--I wonder how I can manage that? Thanks--I'll think of something. It does get rather hot on the porch at times.
Hey--what's shakin' Tomi? It IS spring--in SOME parts of the country.
Shannon H. Feb 7, 2009, 12:55am EST
Cute grapes.
Thank you, for sharing

orkutwishes.com
Have a Great & powerful day W/J!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /a>
Debbie R. Feb 7, 2009, 9:39pm EST
thanks for sharing.
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Ginny W. Feb 7, 2009, 10:05pm EST
Very good info.

Gave you a 10.
Jean, just the teensiest bit odd, F. Feb 9, 2009, 1:01am EST
It's all this warm weather we've been having in NorCal... The "mosquito bill" wildflowers on the hill opposite my house are blooming, too, AND the deciduous native "buckeye" is practically leafed out already...

I'm hoping tomorrow nights overnight temps won't destroy it all, though. It's supposed to be down to 30-degrees here in Cloverdale...

**fingers crossed**
Jean, you're up there in Cloverdale, which, as I'm sure you are aware is more typical of Northern California climate than is the Bay Area, especially Marin, which is surrounded on 3 sides by water, just like San Francisco, resulting in a 'blanket' of fog much of the time which keeps it reasonably warm year 'round. In 40 or so years living in the SF Bay Area, I doubt if I have seen the temperature drop as low as freezing more than a handful of times. Even the Napa Valley, which is almost all taken up with vinyards (and not far from you OR myself), has frost on a regular basis, but not so here in Marin, thankfully! One of the drawbacks in the 'early spring' of the majority of NorthernCalifornia is that there are still many nights that drop below freezing, and with too much of that a lot of the plants that are encouraged to bloom early don't make it. Hopefully, Cloverdale will be spared.
Digital Diva S. Feb 9, 2009, 12:48pm EST
It’s a wonderful addition to the group. Thanks for posting this to Texture Photographer
chelsie t. Feb 10, 2009, 9:03am EST
MyHotComments.com
MyHotComments
Gerald_Waving my Freak-flag High Brewster Feb 10, 2009, 11:05am EST
It seems all I had to was talk about it--we had one of those frosts last night.
Jennifer K. Feb 12, 2009, 1:08am EST
Oooh, Gerald! Very, very nice! I have a feeling Spring is coming early this year and my daughter said the very same thing to me today while noticing some buds on the tree in front of my house...very nice!
regina k. Feb 15, 2009, 7:55pm EST
cool
Roberta Moto Feb 17, 2009, 6:19pm EST
can't wait for spring in Alaska
Wow! I can't say that I envy you all that much--you must be made of heartier stuff than I.
Thank you for the feature, Jennifer--I wasn't even aware that Botanical ID was your site!
Jennine D. Feb 18, 2009, 2:56am EST
Here in Washington near Spokane they said the Robins are back and it is a bit earlier than usual this year. Maybe we will get spring early to make up for such a long winter last year.
April H. Jun 26, 2009, 1:49am EDT

Just wanted to let you know that I referred gather members to this article in this article here:

Traditional California State Foods

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