lizzimmer
Just Arrived
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 1:19 pm Post subject: Wild Grape Insects |
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I recently picked wild grapes and found some
of them had small worms inside. After some
research, I learned they were Grape Berry
Moth larvae. I washed the grapes and picked
out the gross ones that I could find. My
question is this. Should I use the grapes
for grape jelly even though they had these
inside? Most of them came out during washing
(I hope)
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
 Moderator
Joined: 07 Jan 2006
Location: North Texas (Map)
Posts: 4921
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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I make wild grape jelly every year the crop is good, but I have never searched them for worms. I pick the stems and any other debris like spider webs from them, throw out the bad ones, wash them really well, then mash, cook and stain the juice out.
I guess there could have been worms in some of them but since I never saw them and no one ever got sick from eating the jelly, they probably do not have any effect on the finished product.
Besides, we all eat more disgusting things than that in some store bought foods every day.
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dooley
Official Garden Turtle
Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Location: Arizona, U.S.A (Map)
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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Have you ever watched winemakers crush grapes. They do not sort them. They go into the crusher straight from the big tubs. Stems, green ones, dry ones and whatever else is there. I was told it helps the process. I've forgotten how. Cider is made the same way, they don't cut the apples looking for worms. Hope some people don't quit drinking it now. Dooley
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
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Joined: 07 Jan 2006
Location: North Texas (Map)
Posts: 4921
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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The only thing worse than biting into an apple and finding a worm, is biting into an apple and finding half a worm.
I leave the green ones in too, they add a bit of a tang to the flavor that is really good.
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 10735
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| Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Lizzi. It looks as though Toni and Dooley have answered your question about the worms in your grapes. Good luck with the grape jelly. Maybe you could post a piccie once it's made so that we can all drool over it?
WELCOME to GardenStew by the way and I hope you'll stay around and join in the fun here. 
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lizzimmer
Just Arrived
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for your help. I realize we all
eat pretty discusting things we don't know
about every day. I'll just make sure that
when I give some away to people, I won't
mention "the worms."
And, thank you for the welcome. I'm sure
I'll stick with GardenStew. I always have
questions.
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Frank
Happy Gardening
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Joined: 25 Jan 2005
Location: Malmö, Sweden
Posts: 8958
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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| lizzimmer wrote: |
Thank you for your help. I realize we all
eat pretty discusting things we don't know
about every day. |
As they say - what we don't know won't hurt us 
Welcome Lizzi, I recommend maybe introducing yourself in the "Welcome to GardenStew" forum. That way we will recognize you again when you have more questions  But it's up to you.
Regards.
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PlantStew is new and needs your help, please contribute what you can. It will benefit members and visitors alike.
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