Fruit Ripening and Picking Guides
Meet the fruits of Toronto!
Grapes
Cree: sôminis
Ojibwe: zhoomin
Summary
Many varieties of grapes are excellent for eating raw, and others make great jellies and juices. Grapes are round, grow in bunches, and can be green, red or purple when fully ripe. Grapes grow on vines that have curly tendrils and lobed leaves with jagged edges that can be used to make stuffed grape leaves (also known as ‘dawali’ or ‘dolmas’).
Jump To
Average Ripening Timeline: mid August to mid September
Ripeness Indicators
- Color When Ripe: can be green, light purple, or dark purple. There may be a white, dust-like bloom on the skin. Grapes start off green and will often change colour well before they are ripe so don’t let the colour fool you. Ripe green grapes will appear more transluscent with brown seeds
- Feel & Texture When Ripe: juicy, easy to crush or tear with your fingers
- Taste & Smell When Ripe: taste sweet rather than tart
- Underripe if…seeds are not brown, sometimes green in color, very sour or astringent. Pulp remains on stalk when detaching single grape
- Overripe if…mushy, wrinkled, or discoloured
How to Harvest
Average Yield: 10 to 150 lbs
- As grapes are often picked by looking and reaching up into a pergola, make sure to wear eye and head/neck protection, as well as gloves
- Hold the cluster in one hand, and cut off the stem from the vine with the other using pruners or scissors.
- Do not remove grapes from stem – these should be eaten straight away or disposed of
- Place grapes gently into harvesting containers, and do not over fill bags
- Under ripe grapes will not ripen after being harvested
How to Store and Eat
Storing
- Fridge: Store unwashed, in a ventilated container. Keep away from strong-smelling foods.
- Freezer: Wash and pat dry. Freeze on a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a bag or container. Use within 10-12 months. Frozen grapes are best used in recipes where they stay frozen, such as smoothies, in punch or cocktails, or on their own as a snack. You can also freeze grape juice.
Ideas for Eating
Grape varieties that have large seeds, such as concord, are best used for cooking, but are safe to eat raw.
Eating fresh; Pie; Jelly; Juice; Wine; Dehydrating