thanx for the info, Is there a spray or what can i do to prevent the mold? And is there a test that i can run on my soil for the salt content? I built a foot high raised box and filled it with a half and half mix of the soil that was there and vegetable growing potting soil from Home Depot.

Thanks Murky & Fruitnut. Hopefully I'll be able to find Canadice & Swenson Red locally.

Bart, the primary difference in the grapes you mention is your wine grapes are pure vinafera and the table grapes are hybrid vinafera/american. There is some difference in table vs wine but the vinafera/hybrid difference is bigger. Most hybrid grapes are much more resistant to diseases but it does vary from variety to variety. I am a primarily organic grower and I found vinafera a huge pain which took up way too much of my time so I pulled out my wine grapes this spring. I now have primarily hybrids and just a couple vinafera table grapes. Usually by now I have had to do 4-5 sprays but this year I have done only one and the grapes still look fine (even the couple vinafera look fine - their neighbors are all un-diseased and that must help). So, a rough guide is half or fewer sprays are needed; save your tank leftovers for them. As far as pruning goes I used the same for all types but I am not in to all of the subtle stuff of grape pruning. Some table varieties are considered better pruned to canes and other pruned to spurs, but I always used spur pruning for all my grapes. Scott

I have not done this with pressed grapes but with apple pumice. I think you may find it needs less browns than you think. Also, my suggestion would be to try to get some compost worms in there and let them go to town. Just have a layer somewhere that they can hide in/retreat to if there are conditions they don't like. Eventually the pressed grapes will get to the point where the worms will be happy and they'll move through and make beautiful compost. Of course, browns won't hurt, but you just may not need to worry about getting it perfect unless you're in a rush.