Growing Concord Grapes

The Concord grape was first grown by Ephraim Bull about 150 years ago and is a member of the "Vitris Labrusca" family. It is a robust easy recognizable grape with a color palette ranging from dark purple to dark blue and a skin covered a milky mist.

The Vitris Labrusca family is known to be the host for many table and wine grape varieties. Today the production of commercially grown Concord Grapes amounts to well over 400,000 tons per year. The fact that most of this crop rarely shows up on the grocer produce racks is a sign that this grape has a flaw which prevents it to be a "table grape" success. The aroma of the grape is wonderful so no problem there, no, it's the seeds who are guilty, and preventing this grape to become the cash box success that the taste of the pulp promises it to be. It's obvious that we prefer the seedless varieties by far over this heavily seeded family member. Therefore when your objective is to grow a nice fresh table grape, the Muscat or Sultana Grape species are more suitable then the Concord

Table versus Wine Grapes

Sweet table grapes have an aroma and taste to it that is especially based on the sugar contents of the fruit. Sugar doesn't survive the fermentation process, because it's the fuel of that process. A wine brewed from table grapes is usually a very shallow tasting remembrance of wine.
Wine grapes are usually rather sour and its aroma is not solely dependent on sugar so taste is preserved and the fermentation is less violent.

The Concord is in fact an exception to the rule and despite it's high sugar content a suitable Wine Grape. But the real focus of most commercial growers of the Concord is food and juice production. For the home wine maker the Concord can be just fine. Because of the sweetness of its fruits fermentation is easy to start and the aroma is strong enough to survive that transformation.

Without a doubt the home gardener can grow this variety with success and will get a cut when he or she applies the basics. So when the climatic and soil conditions are suitable you will have little trouble growing this cultivar.

Basic Vine yard rules for the Concord

Do not allow the vine to bear fruit during the first two years. Pinch off the flowers, in these early
seasons. This will allow the plant grow a strong root system and really establish itself.

The third season you can allow some fruit, but only if the plant looks strong enough. Simply pinch about 50% of the flowers away that season and let the plant work at 50% of its capacity.

Firm establishment of the vine is very important so try to set some impatience aside for a good healthy plant will produce crop for over 40 years

Growing Grapes From Seed

You can grow Concord Grapes from the seed these grapes so over abundantly supply. But as with most cultivated varieties you will usually not get what you planned for, and will probably result in a "sour grape" of sorts. Therefore get some cuttings or slips as they are called

Soil Requirements

Grapes thrive in a rich soil with a good structure. Compost and mulch will work miracles here. Sun, grapes and wine go together, so to give your vine what is needs use south facing trellis or wall to produce. Since you want your vines to get as strong as possible you don't let them waste energy in competing with weeds and other plants. Keep all other plants away from your grape vine.

Black Leaf

This is especially important for the Concord grape for this species is particular prone to Black Leaf. This plant disorder inhibits photosynthesis through the loss of chlorophyll. Black Leaf, commonly thought of as a potassium shortage, is an especially unwanted condition in fruits because photosynthesis is responsible for the transformation of sunlight into sugars.

Pruning Your Grapes

Grapes should be pruned in late winter, before the sap starts to rise. Fruit is borne on last year's growth; so avoid taking too much off. But yet, if you leave too much on the quality of the fruit will be quite poor. When you see the early spring blossoms, make sure you also prune off any weak spindly growth.

More vines will grow from the end of the blossom and this should be pruned off at the third or fourth leaf. Unlike other fruit, grapes change color well before they are ripe so make sure you examine the size and taste them before you pick. Under-ripe grapes will be sour or tart to taste.

Growing the concord grape is not especially difficult, but when you take the possible problems with this cultivar into consideration, you might decide otherwise.