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Concord Grape for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide
Concord grapes are the best-known of any grape variety and are a common fixture in most grocery store produce sections. The fruits that come from this plant have an iconic taste and are quite healthy for you too. Fortunately, you don't need to go to the store to get your hands on some Concord grapes of your own. Instead, all you need to do is find and care for a plant that goes by the botanical name, Vitis 'Concord'. If you know how to raise this species, your garden will soon feature captivating twining vines that hold rich clusters of Concord grapes.
- Healthy and flavorful fruits.
- Attractive climbing form.
- One of the easiest grapes for beginners to grow.
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Plant Care
Sunlight
Concord grapes need full sunlight for healthy growth. Six hours per day or more is best.
Watering
Soak the soil in which this plant grows about once per week or once every two weeks, depending on your location.
Fertilizing
Apply a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen in the early spring.
Planting and Care
Planting instructions
To grow a Concord grape plant, you should select a site that has full sunlight and a sturdy structure on which your Concord grape can grow. Each grape plant that you grow should begin with about 5 to 8 feet of spacing around it. The soil in which this plant grows should have plenty of organic matter and be capable of draining water effectively. Prune your Concord grape just after you plant it. When you do this initial pruning, encourage your plant to form a distinct ‘t’ shape, which will help it when it bears fruit.
Watering and nutrients
The amount of water you provide a Concord grape plant depends on the time of year and your growing location. During the hottest months of the year, you’ll likely need to water your Concord grape plant deeply about once per week. However, in other seasons, you may find the soil remains moist enough with more infrequent watering. Likewise, those who live in hotter regions will find their Concord grapes have greater water needs all year. Fertilization is a bit more straightforward for this plant. Simply apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer just as spring begins.
Pollination
Concord grape plants are self-pollinating, which means that you can grow grapes with a single plant. However, there is a common phenomenon with self-pollinating plants in which most species, including the Concord grape plant, will create a much larger harvest when cross-pollination is an option. As such, you should plant more than one Concord grape plant if producing fruit is your goal. Concord grape plants can achieve pollination by insects or wind, which makes the process relatively easy.
Pruning
Growing a Concord grape plant requires a lot of pruning if you want the best results. Plan to prune in the early spring, the middle to late spring, and later in the season as well. During the early spring, you should avoid removing all of the previous year’s growth, as this will remove most of the season’s buds. Later in spring, you can prune once again to reemphasize a strong growth habit for your Concord grape plant. Lastly, it can help to prune leaves while the plant is fruiting, as this encourages the best fruit growth.
Pests, diseases, and animals
An unfortunate aspect of growing Concord grape plants is that you will need to be vigilant about diseases that could affect the health of the fruit you’re likely hoping to grow. Concord grapes are especially vulnerable to fungal infections, and the threat is worst while the fruits are young and developing. During that stage, it’s possible for powdery mildew, black rot, and more to damage and ruin the Concord grape plant’s fruits. Along with those infections, moths, beetles, and other insects can damage Concord grapes as well.
Harvesting
Most of the time, a healthy Concord grape plant that is of fruiting age will be ready for harvest around September. There are also a few physical cues that will help you know when your grapes are ready to pick and eat. Concord grapes that are ready for harvest will be round and easy to pull from their clusters. These fruits should also be easy to break with your hands and will have a deep blue to purple color.
Achieving maximum results
Sunlight is the key to growing a Concord grape that has plenty of fruit. Generally, the more sun your plant gets, the better its harvest will be. You should also not be shy while pruning this plant. Removing significant amounts of a Concord grape plant in the right way and at the right time will stimulate the plant to grow even more vigorously in the next season. Lastly, you may want to add some form of protection for your young grape plants if you live in a region that experiences harsh later winter weather.
FAQs
How long does it take for Concord grape plants to bear fruit?
Even if you give a Concord grape plant the right care, you cannot expect it to give you fruit in the first year. However, if you are patient and attentive with this plant, it won't take too long before you can enjoy a harvest. After about three years, you can expect your Concord grape to reach a level of maturity at which it develops fruit.
Do Concord grapes have deep roots?
Like many grape plants, Concord grapes can have relatively deep roots. After growing for several years and reaching a significant size, a grape plant's root system may reach several feet down into the ground. However, most of the roots of these plants do not stretch that deep into the soil. Instead, most live in the first few layers of soil and spread horizontally.
What kind of soil is best for Concord grape plants?
The soil for a Concord grape plant should meet a few important standards. First, it should have excellent drainage to prevent standing water around the roots. Next, it should have plenty of organic nutrients on which your Concord grape can feed. Generally, the type of soil that meets these conditions most often is loam, which typically proves to be the best of all soil varieties for Concord grapes as well.
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Customer Reviews
Have not been planted long, but are looking really strong and healthy.
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