Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Signs of Bad Quality in Grapes
Signs of Bad Quality in Grapes. Sour, unripe grapes can spoil a dish and you won't want to eat them on their own. Because grapes are used in so many things, from salads and desserts to wines, and juices, it's important to choose quality grapes that will make the item the best it can be. Checking grapes carefully when you buy or harvest them from...
Sour, unripe grapes can spoil a dish and you won't want to eat them on their own. Because grapes are used in so many things, from salads and desserts to wines, and juices, it's important to choose quality grapes that will make the item the best it can be. Checking grapes carefully when you buy or harvest them from your backyard grapevines will help you pick the highest-quality fruits. Grapes do not continue to ripen once they're cut from the vine, so pick or buy them at their peak.
Color
When grapes are ripe and of good quality, they should be either blue, red or light green. If the grapes are still dark green, they are not yet ripe. The variety you recognize as "green" grapes are categorized as white grapes. These grapes are ripe when they turn a light chartreuse, a subtle yellow-green. If a grape is brown or turning brown, it is either going bad or did not get the required nutrients while it was growing. Look for a uniform color across the grapes on the bunch or the vine. If colors vary, the grapes are getting an uneven amount of nutrients, which will lead to lower quality grapes.
Size
There is no standard grape size. Size depends on grape variety, including whether it is a seedless type. But size can be a good indicator of grape quality if you know what size is best for the cultivar. Look for a standard size across all the grapes on the vine. If the grapes on the vine are vastly different sizes, the grapes are not getting an even amount of nutrients and will be a lower quality grape.
Firmness
When grapes are growing, they are firm. Look for grapes that are firm but give and spring back when lightly pressed. Check their quality by giving several grapes a gentle squeeze. If the grapes are soft or have soft spots, they are overripe and going bad. If grapes are still on the vine and getting soft, then they were not picked soon enough or they did not receive the proper amount of nutrients.
Taste
To some extent, the color, taste and firmness can all indicate a grape is good. The only thing left to do is taste it. Even if grapes give all indications that they are good, the taste may prove otherwise. Sometimes, grapes grow properly but do not come become sweet. When this happens, try letting the grapes ripen longer, but if they don't get sweeter, they may not have gotten the right nutrients. When tasting, try a single grape from the bunch.
