Among the wild food just waiting to be plucked from open fields, deep forests, lush riverbanks and country roadsides, wild grapes have got to be a favorite. If you’re a fan of the delicious fruit, you’re not alone. It turns out that humans have likely beengathering grapes for 15,000 yearsbefore we were cultivating them.
Where To Find Wild Grapes
在夏末秋初的时候,野葡萄的果实很容易被识别出来。野葡萄的果实大小与蓝莓相似,果肉数量相同,呈深紫黑色。They grow everywhere in the United States, withover 60 specieshaving been identified. They vary in terms of growing conditions. Some prefer dry, sandy soil, while others thrive in hot, humid conditions.
Wild grapes are perennial climbing or trailing vines. You’ll find them growing in the woods, along riverbanks, fencerows, and in landscaping. They’re also planted in orchards, vineyards, and tree plantations. You can sometimes find them in hardwood forests, growing along with the trees after logging, fire, or a windfall as they cannot reproduce in the shade.
Because they are a vining plant without a solid, upright trunk, they make their way along anything they can attach themselves to and can grow as high as 80 to 100 feet, totally enveloping bushes and trees.
How To Identify Wild Grapes
Prior to harvesting, you’ll be able to identify wild grapes by their leaves. They are green, heart-shaped at the based, and lobed. They have long, pointed tips and are serrated at the edges. The surface of their leaves is smooth.
Their flowers that bloom in early summer are tiny and white and grow in clusters. After they finish blooming, they’ll leave hard, green grapes behind.
与自果的驯化葡萄不同,野生葡萄的花需要昆虫异花授粉。
Differentiating Wild Grapes From Other Plants
As with any food you’re foraging for in the wild, you need to be careful with what you consume. It’s important to take the extra time and care to understand the difference between wild grapes,Canada moonseed(Menispermum canadense), andVirginia creeperor woodbine (Parthenocissu).
The berries of wild grapes, Canada moonseed, and Virginia creeper look very similar, so it’s important to know what to look for to differentiate the three, especially if your children will have easy access to these vines. The fruits of Canada moonseed and Virginia creeper are known to be toxic to humans. Here are some important details to look for when you’re differentiating wild grapes from Canada moonseed and Virginia creeper.
Canada Moonseed
- Leaves are similar to the wild grape, but the edges are not serrated.
- 月子的叶干附着在叶子的下面,而不是边缘。
- Wild grapes have two to four seeds within each fruit, whereas the moonseed has one crescent-shaped seed.
- Moonseed vines will not grow to the large sizes that wild grapes will, and they don’t have tendrils.
Virginia Creeper
- Virginia creeper leaves are a five-leafed ivy, otherwise known as woodbine.
- The vines don’t start to look “shaggy” as they get older like wild grapes do.
- The fruit they produce are widely-spaced clusters in which the stems fork in equal divisions, rather than the large central-stem branching pattern of wild grapes.
- Virginia creeper fruit stems are typically bright pink, while wild grape stems are usually green or straw-colored.
Difference Between Wild And Domesticated Grapes
With wild and domesticated grapes sometimes growing in the same locations, how can you tell the difference? Well, outside of wild grapes being less sweet than a domesticated grape and having a thicker skin, there are several different characteristics. Wild grapes grow high, clinging to everything around them, wrapping their thin tendrils and narrow, curling branches around other trees for support.
Domestic grapes, on the other hand, are a smaller-growing vine that develops along long, flexible stems, needing supports, or growing more like a shrub. Domestic vines also require a cooler winter chill to produce healthy fruit the next season, whereas wild grapes require minimal chill.
The leaves of domestic vines are larger, course and duller, growing about 6-8 inches wide, and wild vine leaves are around 4 inches wide and are glossy in texture and appearance. You’ll also notice that the bark of a domestic grape vine sheds and exfoliates, while the bark of a wild grape vine is tight on the stem.
Uses For Wild Grapes
On top of being delicious, wild grapes aregood for you并且可以以多种方式使用。许多品种可以直接采摘食用。它们也很适合榨汁,而且冷冻得很好,所以你可以在整个冬天榨汁。此外,它们还可以做成果酱、果冻、派和蛋糕等东西。
Another great use for wild grapes are their leaves. The leaves themselves taste like citrus fruit and can be eaten raw in salads or cooked. One traditional and popular dish in the Mediterranean isdolma, which are grape leaves stuffed with rice, meat and spices. You can give thisvegan variationa try as well.
Now that you know more about wild grapes, treat yourself and your friends and family to a fruit us humans have been enjoying for a millennium. The next time you’re out foraging for wild apples, plums, walnuts, blackberries, elderberries and black cherries, keep your eye out for those wild grapes as well.
Nicolesays
I have tons of wild grape vines but in the 3 years I have owned them, they have not produced a single grape. The neighbors say they have never seen grapes on it either. Any thoughts on how to get them to produce? My small yard is very pollinator friendly and we usually have tons of pollinators so I am pretty sure that is not the issue.
Bob Hannahsays
I had the same problem with wild grapes for a few years. I also have one domestic grape that produces well. This year I finally see the little green berries on the old flower clusters of the wild grape, so it should produce. I’m on the Ontario-Quebec border.
Hannahsays
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I found these growing in my Chicago courtyard this morning. Last year there was no fruit. Wondering if it’s worth trying to do something with the fruit? I already plan to use the leaves.
ATheoKsays
Some muscadines and I believe other ‘wild’ North American grapes have male and female plants.
Only the female plants bear fruits in these species or cultivars. Males are necessary to fertilize the female grape vines.
June Cataniasays
This year there seem to be a lot more wild grapes and they actually have turned purple! I have noticed that there are also many plants etc that have flourished this year, I think that it may be because of the winter we had plus an abundance of rain!