New guy from Ohio

[Jal5]

Looking forward to learning a lot here. Recently started making wine again after a 30 yr. hiatus. Made a batch of Valroza from the Expert Winemaking Kit and it turned out pretty good. Just bottled it today! Will probably make a Riesling type for the next batch as my wife prefers that wine.

Happy New Year,
Joe

 

[cmason1957]

Welcome to WineMakingTalk. Jump right into the pool and join us.

 

[Jasper24]

Happy New Year to you and please enjoy the forum

 

[bkisel]

Welcome to the forum!

Were you doing kits 30 years ago? My guess is that today's kits are a vast improvement over what kits were 30 years ago.

 

[Jal5]

thanks for the welcome.
I didn't use kits when I first started winemaking years ago since I had access to a lot of free fruit. Used some book recipes for grape wines, cherry wine, and I think the best ones were from pears.
Joe

 

[Arne]

Oh yeah, pear makes a wonderful wine. Welcome to the forum. Arne.

 

[GaDawg]

Welcome from Georgia! lots of good information here and a lot of very helpful people, great place to be!

 

[Dennis Griffith]

Greetings fellow buckeye. I just joined the forum and wanted to see anyone else in the area was here.

 

[Jal5]

Hi Dennis. Lots of good folks here. I have learned a lot already. I live near Steubenville, where are you in Ohio?
Joe

 

[shrewsbury]

I live in Vermilion. About 1/2 hour west of cleveland.

 

[Jal5]

Probably several places in Cleveland to get supplies and fresh juice buckets in season. I did a kit as first wine last fall then this spring launched into juice buckets. I think I like those better. Joe

 

[Dennis Griffith]

Hi Dennis. Lots of good folks here. I have learned a lot already. I live near Steubenville, where are you in Ohio?
Joe

I live in Highland County near Hillsboro.

 

[Dennis Griffith]

I live in Vermilion. About 1/2 hour west of cleveland.

What variety are you growing? I currently have 45 vines (+ or - one) and have mostly America with some Buffalo and Concord.

 

[shrewsbury]

I currently have 180 vidal blanc and planted 90 delaware this year

 

[Dennis Griffith]

That's a respectable set of vines you have. I plan on more next year. I have been conquering all the issues of growing grapes where I live. The biggest issue I face is Japanese Beetles. They are very persistent here. For instance, I sprayed liquid Sevin yesterday and the are already back today (in reduced numbers of course). I alternate stuff, but whatever I use doesn't remain effective for the period they say. I also set traps around the outskirts and treat the soil with milky spore. Last year I was filling trash cans with dead beetles just from the traps. And I have to change the bags daily during peak season. I'm hoping their numbers decrease over time due to my efforts.

 

[shrewsbury]

wow, that is a lot.
Japanese beetles tend to get bad around the last week of july for my area.
So I spray with sevin once at the end of march, april, and may. Then once in the middle in june, then starting in july to the middle of august I spray about every 7-10 days.

 

[Dennis Griffith]

Well, the Sevin spray was only 4 days after the last Bonide Fruit Tree spray I did, which is twice a year early on. The beetles were so bad that I had to risk it. I'll try to wait the recommended week, but thought about using Neem in a couple of days. It is fairly harmless and will work as a repellent for a couple of days. I am playing it by ear and am hoping their numbers decline early this year. I also have an orchard and they love it as well. The traps are only filling half way each day, so it is as bad a last year. last year, at peak, I had a bag come off the trap after about 6 hours cause it was full to the top. Could explain why I have some many moles in the area.

 

[shrewsbury]

I have a small orchard as well, what type of trees are you growing?

I have 12 dwarf apples and 3 figs.

How many acres do you live on? Are you surrounded by farms?

Man that is a lot of beetles, a whole lot.

 

[Dennis Griffith]

Yes, it is a lot.

I have pears, apples, cherries, plums, blueberries, nectarines, a couple of peach, and a gooseberry. I had a fig, but it didn't make it through a winter. I also have some hops.

I have 30 acres and have farmland on 2 sides, but have land that is grow up on the other side (close to the vines). I also have woodland (20 acres tillable).

Up until I started growing grapes, plum trees were by far the favorite, but the grapes brought them in (for miles, I guess). They still like the plums, but as my vines have reached maturity, they have attracted beetles by the bus load. And I have noticed that they like some varieties over other. Buffalo is their favorite. BTW, dead beetles are by far the worst thing I have ever smelled.

 

[shrewsbury]

what type of figs did you have?

I was curious if maybe the reason I have less beetles is because I am surrounded by farms, but I guess not. I know my zone is different than yours, so perhaps me being closer to lake erie helps keep the beetles down?