Extra-tropical cyclone Sam

Hurricane Sam barreled across the Atlantic as a category 4 storm. Fortunately for us, it started to weaken in the colder waters north of Bermuda and was stopped from a full assault on Ireland by the high-pressure system that's been sitting over us for some time. 

But that did not stop the bands of heavy rain from coming down on us. It's also unusually warm. Suddenly, all the windows in the house steamed up -- from the outside. That means the humidity and temperature in the air outside was much higher than inside. Very strange phenomenon. 

What is all this going to mean for the vineyard? Not sure. But I certainly am grateful this did not happen before harvest. Thankfully, there's very little wind or the vines would have been whipped around and possibly snapped as they are still fully in leaf. 

And I managed to get most of the grass cut and removed before the rain. Thank goodness. It's going to take a long time to dry out from this. 

Our grapevine for eating grapes Vitis Vanessa is in the ground in the polytunnel next to one of the supports. It will grow deep into the earth there and get moisture from the surrounding ground so I won't have to water it. It is hardy and self-pollinating but will mature sooner in the polytunnel than outside. At least that's the theory. 

A Canadian-bred, early dessert variety, Vanessa is well adapted to cooler climates like ours and is one of the hardiest of the seedless grapes. It will succeed outdoors in the warmest areas against a south-facing wall but may do better and ripen earlier if planted undercover.  

• Site: Sheltered and warm
• Soil: Any reasonably fertile, well-drained soil
• Position: Full sun
• Pick: Late September
• Keep: A few days
• Hardiness: Hardy
• Pollination: Self-fertile
• Uses: Eating, juicing

Purchased from Future Forests.

Grape on the right in the black sleeve (no bottom)

Wildflowers took well on the south side of the tunnel.