Well, it looks like my grapes are infested with grape phylloxera. Since there's no known "cure" for this problem, I have to ask: are my grapes even edible? Or does the whole vine have to be cut down and burned? And if so, how long before I can re-plant (with resistant rootstock)?
Thanks so much for your help. Jeff
What makes you think there's an infestation of Phylloxera? Are you sure you have Concord vines?
Bob
Agree with the prior poster - are you sure you have phylloxera? First, phylloxera attack the vines, not the grapes. If you have phylloxera, but still have grapes, the grapes should be fine. Your problem would be the mortality of your vines.
What are the symptoms that cause you to suspect you have phylloxera in your vineyard? What part of the country are you in?
Second - as the prior poster asked - are you sure you have Concord? As best I know, Concord is of the labrusca species - which is phylloxera resistant (phylloxera may be present, but to the best of my knowledge do not present a mortality threat to your vines).
Well, I'm pretty sure they're concord grapes -- because I like concord, and that's what they taste like. :)
As far as whether or not it's phylloxera, I took a leaf that had a bunch of galls on it (easy, as most of the leaves had them) to a gardening store, and after some discussion and research, we "verified" that's what it was. This vine is relatively young (i.e. only a few years old, I think). The reason I don't know much about the vine is that it was here and growing before I even knew what it was. I knew there were vines on the fence (towards the back of my property), but this is the first year that it produced *anything*.
I live in Southern Wisconsin.
Thanks for all of your feedback! I really appreciate it.
Jeff
Hmm... Maybe then this isn't an issue (as far as the grapes are concerned).
The galls were spiked and green on the underside of the leaves, but the vine itself seemed to be growing very well this year. So, if I
*can* spray something, what would that be, and when would I spray? (I assume before the grapes start growing)Thanks again for all the input!!!
Jeff
Jeff
You should consider taking those leaves to your county extension agent to ask them for ID and advice. I'm from Western PA and we grow a lot of Concord without issue. I don't though.
Joe
There don't seem to be definite recommendations for spraying for foliar phylloxera. If you aren't currently following a general spray program, maybe it would help control the phylloxera (as well as leaf hoppers and berry moth) if you did. General recommendations for spraying with fairly benign stuff would involve using carbaryl, malathion, or methoxyclor pre-bloom and then a few times post-bloom. You can find days to harvest limitations on the labels.
Thank you for the recommendations!
Jeff
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