When to Harvest Foch Grapes?

Months of Ripeness

• The Marechal Foch grape matures as early as mid-August in some growing areas such as Iowa. Actual dates of the harvest vary depending on the climate of the region and the actual weather during the spring and summer.

Harvesting Late

• The quality of the fruit improves when harvested later in the fall. The tannin level decreases while the sugar level increases. Testing done by Cornell University on grape vines in upstate New York indicated an increase in quality by delaying harvest about two weeks after the first indications the grape clusters are ripe.

Monitor the Color

• Color is the first sign the Marechal Foch grape is ripe. The fruit is rather small, compared with other grapes, and turns a black color when ripe. Monitor the color change and decide the time of harvest based on allowing the grapes to mature beyond the point of ripeness.

Harvest Tips

• Protect the Marechal Foch grapes from birds while the clusters mature and ripen. This can be done with visual items, such as scarecrows or fluttering tapes, or bird netting. Spring thinning or pruning of the grape vines also can improve the quality of the grape production. Thinning the canopy of leaves over the grape clusters allows more sunlight to reach the fruit. It reduces the overall yield of the grapes, but increases the quality of the fruit.