Vitis labrusca 'Concord'
Growing zones
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5-8
Vitis labrusca 'Concord'
Status: Out of stock
Product ID#: gconc
Product Description
Sun Exposure
Sun
Bloom Time
Spring
Soil Conditions
Normal, Sandy
Flower Color
Green, White
Fruit Color
Blue, Purple
Mature Plant Size (H x W)
varies
Diversify your edible garden by introducing the Concord grape vine to your repertoire. The Concord grape plant is named after the town of Massachusetts, where it was first grown. It has gone on to become America’s most popular grape variety. A sibling of the Concord seedless grape vine, its beautiful grape fruit matures to a blue-purple color and tastes as good as it looks! It’s great for baking, eating fresh, or making outstanding wine. Concord grapes are extremely hardy, vigorous, and fast-growing plants. They are great for gardeners who want to make worthwhile, long-term investments!
Enhance Your Garden With Concord Grapes from McKay Nursery
At McKay Nursery, we provide a carefully curated selection of plants, including the delectable Concord grape vine. When you purchase from us, you’re assured of receiving top-quality plants, all can be backed by our one-year warranty. If you’re looking for quality Concord Grape vines for sale, order from us today! For more details, contact us at [email protected] or call 920-478-2121.
Note: *Does not ship to Idaho or Oregon*
Enhance Your Garden With Concord Grapes from McKay Nursery
At McKay Nursery, we provide a carefully curated selection of plants, including the delectable Concord grape vine. When you purchase from us, you’re assured of receiving top-quality plants, all can be backed by our one-year warranty. If you’re looking for quality Concord Grape vines for sale, order from us today! For more details, contact us at [email protected] or call 920-478-2121.
Note: *Does not ship to Idaho or Oregon*
- Sun
Mature Plant Size (H x W):
varies 
Bloom Season:
Spring
Key features
- Attracts Bees
- Attracts Birds
- Walnut Toxicity Resistant
- Edible to People
- Attracts Butterflies
Planting Care
Planting & Care for Edible Plants – Grapes
Preparation
- Full sun is important to provide the heat required to ripen the fruit.
- Grape vines grow quickly and get quite heavy. To accommodate this, virtually any type of support structure will do, provided it’s sturdy.
- Spring planting is recommended to give the young vines the most time to get established before their first winter.
- Each vine needs about 6 feet of space.
- To harvest, clip full clusters off the vine with pruning shears or heavy scissors.
- Handle clusters carefully; remove any discolored, injured, or undesirable berries; and cool them as soon as they are picked.
- Storing grapes in a refrigerator is preferable to a cellar or other cool place where temperatures fluctuate.
- Plants will arrive as dormant, bare-root plants. When you receive the plants, keep them in a cool place with the root system moist. You should plant these vines as soon as possible.
- Flowers are self-fertile and pollinated by wind and insects.
- Flowers are initiated on young canes. It is possible to get fruit one year after planting.
- For the first two or three years, each early spring, apply compost around the base of the vines.
- Be sure to harvest this plant in mid-September.
Opening Plant Material
- Bare Root: Cut open the bundle (top and roots are tied) and separate all the plants. Soak roots in buckets of water until planted. Each plant type will be labeled separately for identification. Keep the roots from full sun since they should never dry out. Keep roots covered. All bare-root plants must be trimmed when planted.
Planting Bare Root
- You can plant in April or May (as soon as the ground can be worked).
- Soak roots in water overnight before planting, if possible. (at least 3-4 hours is recommended)
- Dig a broad and deep hole so the roots fit comfortably.
- Place the plant in the hole so the top of the graft stem is at ground level.
- Back-fill with soil, spreading out roots and covering the top of the graft stem.
- Mulching is not usually recommended for grapes because mulch will moderate the soil temperature, often keeping it cooler in warmer months, and grape vines grow best in warmer soil.
- Cut tops to 4-6" in length.
- See our link, “Planting & Handling Help,” for downloadable planting instructions with illustrations.
Pruning – After Planting
- After planting, be sure to prune the bare-root tops back to about 4-6 inches in length. Do not skip this step! It‘s a crucial factor in encouraging the roots to send up new growth during the growing season.
Pruning - Through-out the Season
- Prune in spring before leaves emerge. Vines can be trained in many decorative forms.
- Remember, flowers and fruit are located on buds that developed the previous year. Therefore, you need to encourage new growth, but not too much.
- Grapevines must be pruned properly in late winter to prevent excessive fruit clusters.
- Annual pruning is very important to keep this type of growth healthy and rejuvenating each year.
- Year one - Depending on the size of the vine you buy, prune the vine back to one straight cane. Tie this cane to a stake or the fence and encourage it to grow straight. Remove any buds that start to grow lower on the trunk. This will make managing the vine much easier.
- After year one - Once the trunk has reached as high as you want, and the lateral trunks have been formed, prune the vine each spring before growth begins so the developing canes have enough air movement around them to reduce diseases.
Watering - After Planting
- After planting, water the vines regularly throughout the first year. The root system must grow and be established to allow shoot growth in the first year.
- The best way to do this is to let your garden hose trickle slowly near the base of the plant. This gives the water a chance to soak in instead of running off. You can also use a soaker hose to water several plants at once.
Watering - Through-out the Season
- Water newly planted crowns and keep the soil moist throughout the growing season.
- How do you know if your plants need water? The easiest way to tell is to touch the soil around the roots. If it is moist, there is no need to water. If it’s dry, give it a good soak with the hose end (no nozzle), watering the soil only, not the leaves.
- Same as after planting, stick your finger into the soil around 3” to check soil moisture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between Concord grapes and regular grapes?
Concord Grapes are hardy plants native to North America. Typically larger in size compared to European varieties, Concord grapes also have a slip skin thicker than the fixed skin on European grapes.
Since Concord grape vines grow on their own rootstock, they are not affected by pests called grape phylloxera. Besides their pest-resistant quality, Concord grapes have significantly higher concentrations of antioxidants than red or green grapes.
What can you make with concord grapes?
Concord grapes can be turned into the flavor of classic purple grapes. Besides being mushed into a drink, their fruit is also used to make grape juice, pie, grape jelly (jam), flavored candy and even a good ol’ healthy snack.
Concord grapes can also be used to make sweet wines and Kosher wine.
When can I harvest fruit from my Concord grape vine?
Although the woody vines and leaves of a Concord grape vine grow rapidly in the first year, it can take up to three years before fruits can be harvested.
Pruning is a key aspect of a Concord grape vine’s fruit production. During the first two to three years, make sure to apply compost around the base of the vines so that the plant grows vigorously. Depending on their growing conditions, some plants may need a nutrient boost each year.
Are Concord grape plants self-pollinating?
Yes. Concord grape plants are self-pollinating, so you can grow grapes with just a single plant.
However, Concord grape vine plants can benefit from a much larger harvest through cross-pollination.
Remember to plant your grape vines in an area with enough space to accommodate a robust support system on well-draining soil.
What are the common issues of Concord Grape plants
Concord grape plants may be susceptible to overwatering, leaf scorch, and certain pests.
When overwatering occurs, root rot can be an issue. In contrast, underwatering may lead to crispy leaves.
To prevent leaf scorch, use proper shade cloth or companion planting to reduce sun exposure.
Although Concord grapes don’t need to be sprayed with pesticides, fungicides may be necessary to prevent infection. You can also attract beneficial insects or install netting for protection.
Planting & Handling Help
Download our Planting and Handling Guide below to plan for a successful arrival and install of your plants. Be sure to water all plants as soon as they arrive and every day until you’re ready to plant. Keep any bare root bundles in a shady, cool spot with the roots covered at all times.
Learn More
Watch our videos on handling bare root plants, how your order is prepared for shipment and more.
Plant Sizing
What is the difference between Containers, Grow Bags, Bare Root, and Balled & Burlap (B&B)?
Shipping Times
Our FedEx and local shipping times depend on two factors, one is by the region and the second is the type of product being shipped. For example, small fruits are only shipped in spring, but majority of our perennials are shipped from spring until fall. Keep in mind the dates below act as a general guide. Due to unpredictable weather, staffing, inventory and industry demands these timelines can change. Therefore, we cannot guarantee any of these times.
Shipping Dates by Region*
Northern Cold Region: April 22nd - November 7th
Northern Region: April 15th - November 7th
Middle Region: April 1st - November 7th
Southern Region: March 15th - November 7th
Local Delivery (small radius from Waterloo, WI): April 22nd - November 7th
Shipping Dates by Season*
Spring Shipping: Region Start Date (above) - May
Fall Shipping: September - November
Due to unpredictable weather, these times may vary. Some varieties are exceptions due to heat and plant health reasons. Enter your shipping zip code at the top of this page and be sure to check the shipping information on each product before you add it to your cart. If the product is too large or restricted in your state, you will not be able to checkout with that item in your cart.