Growing Concord Grapes In Your Back Yard Garden

Each year more than 400,000 tons of Concord grapes are produced.  While most of these grapes are grown commercially, many are grown in home gardens.

There are many great varieties available so it is important that you pick one based on your local conditions.  If you’re after the decorative appearance only of the grapevines choose sweet cultivars that are easy to grow.  If you intend to make homemade wine, the Concord grape is a good choice.

One thing that is nice about the Concord grape is that it can be used for many things such as making jams and jellies and for the fine wine that it produces.  Before you start your new grape plants make sure that the ground is properly tilled and that the soil is conditioned with  rich organic matter.  Make sure to start your plants after the threat of frost has passed.

In addition to growing grapes in your garden for food or wine, grape vines are a beautiful ornamental plant and provide shade and screens for other plants in your garden that require less sunshine. Grapes themselves love the sun and planting on the south slope, if possible, is an ideal location.

It usually takes three to four years for most grape cultivars to begin producing fruit, but once established,  many varieties will produce fruit for over 40 years.  To get proper fruit production,  it is important that grapes are pruned.  If you do not prune enough of the previous year’s growth back,  you’ll be left with an over abundance of small, unsweet fruits.  If you live in a northern climate where it freezes, do not prune your grapes until the ground thaws.  But you do want to do it before sap begins to flow.  And remember never prune grapes during the growing season.

Prune the plant’s shoots back to the third or fourth leaf after the fruits and also remember to remove any new growth.  Also remove all leaves and plant matter that may be growing around  your grapes to allow for maximum sun light.  Also keep in mind that grapes change color  long before they are ripe.  To avoid making the mistake of picking grapes that are not properly ripened taste one first.  Continue doing this until a sweetness develops.  If you follow these tips and are patient, you will be happily harvesting Concord grapes or years to come.