Concord Grape Vine

The Concord Grape, Vitis 'Concord', is a well-known, high quality blue-black grape that is delicious for fresh eating, juice, jelly or jam. Its berry size and clusters are medium to large. Good for home gardens because it is a reliable producer and vigorous grower.

Ripening in late September, it is one of the oldest cultivated American Grape varieties still commonly grown. Some Missouri vineyards grow this Concord for producing sweet after dinner wines. It is also grown in the Finger Lakes area of New York, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Southwest Michigan, and the Yakima Valley of Washington.

The skin of a Concord Grape is typically dark blue or purple, and often is covered with a lighter colored "bloom" which can be rubbed off. It is a slip-skin variety, meaning that the skin is easily separated from the fruit. It's best to train the stronger cane of the two canes that develop from the plant to a strong stake, five to six feet tall. Remove any suckers growing from the base of the canes.

This grape tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, but must have good drainage. Grapes are primarily grown for fruit production in home fruit gardens where they provide good ornamental value: bold summer foliage, showy fruit, some fall color and shaggy, twisted trunking and branching often best seen in winter.

Grapes need a good support system like fences, walls, trellises, arbors or other structures.The grape vines can be quite attractive year-round and can provide good cover, screening, or shade to areas around the home.

Grapes need full sunlight and high temperatures to ripen, so plant on southern slopes, the south side of windbreaks, or the south sides of buildings. Birds love grapes, so be sure to plant some to share.