Old white vine for watering tomatoes?

clara · June 23, 2013

My son has found some rather old bottles of white vine in our basement, has tasted them - brrr! My question: Can I use the vine for watering my tomatoes? Would that be good for them? (I don't want an "alcoholic" tomato, lol!) Or should I pour the vine into the rain barrels (300 liters when full) to dilute it? Thanks in advance for your advice! clara

ScottinAtlanta · June 23, 2013

I would not put alcohol near my tomatoes, myself, but I have no scientific reason for doing so other than wondering why you would want to take unnecessary risks.

Chucker · June 23, 2013

Wine becomes acidic as it ages and forms some acetic acid when it goes bad, I think. Tomatoes like acidic soil, but I'm not sure it's a good idea.

clara · June 23, 2013

I don't want to take any risks, therefore my question, but I thought there could be still some good ingredients in the vine.

tlintx · June 23, 2013

I pour old beer on my roses, but they're tough and it's very low alcohol. If the wine is really old and oxidated, you'd be just pouring vinegar on them?

habitat_gardener · June 24, 2013

I'd use it for insect traps.

A couple years ago, when I had raspberry and blackberry bushes, the spotted-wing drosophila was a problem. I used some old sake I got from a neighbor to make traps.

There's also this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottle_trap_for_insects

and this site says ants, beetles, flies, and moths are attracted to a bait made from wine and rotting fruit
\http://mississippientomologicalmuseu...ds/Baiting.htm

dice · June 25, 2013

Try it on a weed, see what happens.

Redbaron · June 25, 2013

I have diluted spoiled wine and used it to water and fertilize tomatoes before. Worked great. I have also used alcohol in brewing up foliar concoctions for pest control (although VERY diluted). That works good too.

I must point out it is anecdotal though. What worked for me in the past might not necessarily work for you.

clara · June 25, 2013

Thank you all! I think I shall pour the vine into one rain barrel (I have 2 of them) and water some tomatoes with the diluted vine, others without to have a comparison. clara

June 23, 2013	#1
clara Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 1,351	Old white vine for watering tomatoes? My son has found some rather old bottles of white vine in our basement, has tasted them - brrr! My question: Can I use the vine for watering my tomatoes? Would that be good for them? (I don't want an "alcoholic" tomato, lol!) Or should I pour the vine into the rain barrels (300 liters when full) to dilute it? Thanks in advance for your advice! clara

June 25, 2013	#7
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Try it on a weed, see what happens. __________________ -- alias

June 25, 2013	#8
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	I have diluted spoiled wine and used it to water and fertilize tomatoes before. Worked great. I have also used alcohol in brewing up foliar concoctions for pest control (although VERY diluted). That works good too. I must point out it is anecdotal though. What worked for me in the past might not necessarily work for you. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

June 23, 2013	#2
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	I would not put alcohol near my tomatoes, myself, but I have no scientific reason for doing so other than wondering why you would want to take unnecessary risks.

June 23, 2013	#3
Chucker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 180	Wine becomes acidic as it ages and forms some acetic acid when it goes bad, I think. Tomatoes like acidic soil, but I'm not sure it's a good idea.

June 23, 2013	#5
tlintx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SeTx Posts: 881	I pour old beer on my roses, but they're tough and it's very low alcohol. If the wine is really old and oxidated, you'd be just pouring vinegar on them?

June 24, 2013	#6
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	I'd use it for insect traps. A couple years ago, when I had raspberry and blackberry bushes, the spotted-wing drosophila was a problem. I used some old sake I got from a neighbor to make traps. There's also this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottle_trap_for_insects and this site says ants, beetles, flies, and moths are attracted to a bait made from wine and rotting fruit \http://mississippientomologicalmuseu...ds/Baiting.htm