How to Harvest Grapes

Harvest by Cutting Clusters

• 1

  Examine your grape clusters for signs they are ready for harvest. The harvest cannot begin until the grapes mature. The signs are different among grape varieties, but each variety has a characteristic color, smell and taste. Concord grapes, for instance, are ready when they turn a deep purple and have the typical taste of Concord grape juice. Muscadines are either purple or golden-green, depending on variety, and typically have a strong, musky taste.

• 2

  Locate the singular stem that supports the network of smaller branches that comprise each cluster. This stem is called the peduncle. Snip completely through the peduncle with the grape cutters to remove the grape cluster from the vine.

• 3

  Pluck away any shriveled or overly soft grapes from the cluster and put the cluster in your grape container.

• 4

  Repeat steps 1-3 until the grapes are harvested. Leave immature clusters to develop further.

Harvest by Shaking

• 5

  Spread a tarpaulin underneath the grape vine when grapes are ripening.

• 6

  Shake the vine vigorously to loosen the ripe grapes. Ripe grapes should fall off the vine onto the tarpaulin.

• 7

  Gather the tarpaulin and pour the grapes into containers for further processing.

• 8

  Repeat this procedure as more of the grapes ripen.