> >I used to think that one needed a specific type of grape leaves to make
> >rolled and filled grape leaves, but my Palestinian step-grandmother used
to
> >just use leaves off my grandmother's Concord vines. Now I live in a house
> >with a grape vine that had been trimmed all the way to a stump for winter
by
> >the previous tenants but is now very nice, so here are tons of leaves
which
> >I know have never been sprayed with chemicals, etc. Can I use them in
making
> >rolled and stuffed grape leaves of various sorts? If so, are there
> >guidelines for which ones, as in how old, etc., I should use?
>
> Wait until the grapes attain pea size, then prune away all vine growth
from
> about 12 inches past the grape clusters.... choose your leaves from the
pruned
> away vine.

Thanks! So they really can be from just any kind of grape vine? Great!

>To maximize grape production and quality 1/3 of the vine (by
> weight) past the grape clusters must be pruned away... this ensures plant
> energy is directed towards grape production rather than leaf production.
There
> are various methods for pruning grape vines, many books have been writen
on the
> subject but it's more an art form requiring talent honed by faithful
practice.

Thanks, but I may not worry too heavily about it--this is a small vine as
they go, and I'm in the Netherlands. I hold out very few hopes as to the
likely quality of the two (count them, two) clusters of grapes on this
otherwise thriving vine--it'll probably just count as a decorative plant.
But it's very good information to have!

Thanks again,
Katrina


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