Bagged grapes

I lost my three cherries to the birds this year and all my grapes last year; all two bunches of them. But this spring, a friend who knows lots about grapevines came and pruned my grapes. They are now being trained to grow over my grape arbour. I can sit on the seat and enjoy the filtered sun as it falls on the spreading leaves.

My vines produced a dozen bunches. I netted the grapevine, but then couldn't sit in my arbour! The birds got inside it and panicked as they were trapped and I didn't want to hurt the little thieves! So I was at a loss as to how to save my grapes to at least get to taste one or two.

I read online that one idea was to bag each bunch in brown paper bags, tying them securely at the top with twisty wire. So, I thought I would try this. The grapes don't need the direct sun to ripen them as the sun on leaves will produce the ripeness. Each bunch was duly wrapped, with some scepticism.

I have been delighted to find that the possums leave the bags alone, the birds ignore them and I am getting to eat bunch after bunch of sweet trophies. What is great is that I go down to my grapevines with my secateurs and pick a ‘bag’ of grapes.