Growing up in Ohio grapevines were everywhere. They grew wild —  were some of our favorite playthings — and there never seemed to be issues. That’s not the case with domestic grapes. While not terribly difficult to grow, here are a few grape problems to watch for in your home garden.

Why Not A Fruit Plants to Your Garden This Season

Herbicide Damage

After years of unfortunate experience, if leaves are malformed, the first thing I consider is herbicide damage. It could be as simple as overspray from the yard or in the garden, or a larger issue if there are commercial fields in your area. In general, there might be some discoloration, plus the leaves look puckered. It appears as if they never fully opened. When there is damage, there is really nothing you can do about it, but at least you know it’s not a disease. The best course of action is to prevent it from happening by being extra careful when spraying.

Bird’s Eye Rot

When you see the distinctive appearance of these fungal lesions on the grapes, you understand why Elsinoe ampelina is called Bird’s Eye Rot. They look like a bird’s eye ball. Sometimes confused with hail damage, the big difference is the edges of the brown spots are usually raised up and dark. This most likely occurs in warm, wet seasons, and is a significant problem for many growers. In prone areas, plant disease resistant varieties, or use a dormant lime spray prior to bud break. If you have a current infection, prune out any affected parts and consider using a fungicide such as Captan.

Botrytis Bunch Rot

While there are a lot of good reasons to let the garden unkept during the winter, Botrytis cinerea, winters more easily in left grapes, along with other garden debris. Vulnerable plants need cleaned.  Sometimes there are reddish-brown splotches on the leaves, but it’s most detrimental on the fruit that becomes mushy and fuzzy. The best way to prevent it is to provide plenty of air circulation for the plants and utilize fungicides early in the season.

Finally Not a Fungus – Grape Phylloxera 

While fungal infections make considerable impacts on grape production, they are not without insect pests. Phylloxera looks similar to aphids, although you’re more likely to notice the distinct galls on the leaves. The reality is Phylloxera occurs in most vineyards. As a matter of fact, when Phylloxera was accidentally introduced to Europe from America in the 1800s it nearly wiped out the wine industry when the Phylloxera attacked the grapes’ roots. Thankfully, most of our modern cultivars have resistance to this pest. This doesn’t mean the leaves are completely safe, though. One option to prevent the galls is to utilize kaolin clay early in the season. But once the galls appear there isn’t much that fazes them. 

Grapevine Fanleaf Virus

This viral infection often presents as, not surprisingly, a yellowish fan-like appearance on the leaves of the grape plant. The virus is often passed to the plants through nematodes, but not always. The challenge with this infection is it’s slow to progress showing a general stunting of growth and lack of production. If the plants are already infected, remove them and don’t replant in the same area for at least a season. When you do plant, make sure there is ample air circulation and be vigilant about cleaning tools. Fortunately, this virus isn’t terribly common in home growing situations, but to be extra cautious, consider growing varieties with nematode resistance.

University of Maryland – Grape Diseases

There are few crops more satisfying to raise than homegrown grapes. And while they are generally healthy, keep your eyes open for these issue to enjoy bumper crops.