Collect and dispose of all clusters of black and dried, or mummified fruit. Black rot causes this drying of fruit. Treat with appropriate fungicides as outlined in Bulletin 780. Harvest several times to prevent the feeding by bees and wasps on overripe fruit. Frequent harvesting also decreases infection by diseases.
Ripe fruit is plump and has even color.
Table grapes will taste sweet when ripe, while wine grapes are slightly tart. Two pests that threaten backyard grape crops are the grape berry moth and birds. Larvae of the grape berry moth feed on grapes and make them worthless. Birds simply enjoy eating grapes. Control of these pests is difficult.