[tosca100]

Lovely neighbour has handed me half a dozen large bunches of black eating grapes this morning. Any way I can preserve them?

Thanks

[Capt Zero]

When we lived in France we would put them on a tray in the freezer, then when frozen put in zip locked bags. Same with cherries, great to thaw then eat, or make pies with.

[tosca100]

When we lived in France we would put them on a tray in the freezer, then when frozen put in zip locked bags. Same with cherries, great to thaw then eat, or make pies with.

Hmmmm never thought of making pies with them. Interestin, they are certainly tasty enough. Thanks

[Beetroot Queen]

What about a grape jelly, i did one many years ago but the batch needed about ten times more as the final yield was tiny. Used it to add a little extra something to gravy if i remember rightly. 

[tosca100]

What about a grape jelly, i did one many years ago but the batch needed about ten times more as the final yield was tiny. Used it to add a little extra something to gravy if i remember rightly. 

I've got some windfall pears, I could put some of those with them. An idea.

[tosca100]

Well, I made the black grape and pear jelly, and very nice it is too.

[Beetroot Queen]

Looks great, ummm not sure i can justify buying grapes though to make some, especially at the price shops charge 

[tosca100]

Looks great, ummm not sure i can justify buying grapes though to make some, especially at the price shops charge 

Been out to buy a stove today and it's enough to make you weep the amount rotting on the vines. The ones the neighbour gave us had pips, which we have not seen for years, and I am ashamed to say I avoided buying. But they were absolutely delicious (the hens thought so too) and pips? So what. But we couldn't eat them all.

[Beetroot Queen]

Looks great, ummm not sure i can justify buying grapes though to make some, especially at the price shops charge 

Been out to buy a stove today and it's enough to make you weep the amount rotting on the vines. The ones the neighbour gave us had pips, which we have not seen for years, and I am ashamed to say I avoided buying. But they were absolutely delicious (the hens thought so too) and pips? So what. But we couldn't eat them all.

that always has me grumpy when peopke let producs rot on the plant, its such a waste

[Trillium]

Have you thought of making grape juice and bottling it for the winter? that's my plan for this year. I have several grape plants that were supposed to be nice red seedless eating grapes. Instead, the supplier shipped me seeded blue grapes that have gone wild. I have hundreds of clusters of small grapes that will become juice very soon. I've just bought the perfect item to help me juice them as well as other fruits when they come into full production:

JUICER

True, it costs a bit of money but it's a lifetime investment. I saved up birthday and Christmas moneys and it's now sitting nearby, ready for action. Soon it will get even more as I'd already bought 2 Concord grapes for juicing before the blue grapes started to fruit   

[tosca100]

Maybe next year when our own are in fruit. These came from next door and there were too many for us to eat.

[gobs]

I'm late on this thread and it does look good true, anyway, but not the best use of grapes, IMHO, sun-dry them excess next year...

[tosca100]

I'm late on this thread and it does look good true, anyway, but not the best use of grapes, IMHO, sun-dry them excess next year...

Next year everything will be different. I will hopefully have my own grapes, OH has plans for a sun-drier after his success with tomatoes and peppers this year, and there won't be any builders making a mess everywhere.

[sunshineband]

I use my greenhouse grapes for jelly as they are not quite sweet enough for dessert grapes.

This year's jellies will be Grape with rosemary and Grape with juniper, as well as some sweet grape jelly for cake filling etc (or on toast of course  )

Took me years to realise this was a good way forward with them, instead of wasting such a good crop