How to Prune Concord Grape Vines

Learn how to prune Concord grapevines for the healthiest grape crops.

The Concord grape was developed in 1849 by Ephraim Wales Bull in Concord, Massachusetts. Today Concord grapes are one of the most versatile varieties of grape for the home gardener to grow, since they can be used in jams, jellies, juice, dessert recipes and wines. The grapevines can be trained to grow on a trellis to frame your garden, or as decorative ornaments in your yard or deck. However, Concord grapevines require precise pruning in order to produce the healthiest grape crop. Too-heavy pruning can result in heavy foliage with very little fruit and too little pruning can produce poor-quality fruit. Prune your grapevines before they come out of dormancy in the spring when there is no risk of a final freeze. Learn proper pruning techniques so your Concord grapevines will thrive.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Separate the Concord grapevines to check if there are two or more vines growing into each, which will tell you which vines should be pruned and cut.

2. Using your pruning shears, cut off any grapevine arms with coarse or shedding bark. Coarse bark is usually more than 2-years-old and will no longer produce grapes. Prune the arms at the fifth or fourth bud from the stem.

3. Check for any black or yellowed vines. Using your pruning shears, cut inside one of the buds. If the inside of the vine is no longer green, the vine is dead and should be removed.

4. Prune any excess growth over the top of the vines, which will allow sunlight to reach any new growth.

5. Measure the grapevine canes, which are shoots that are 1-year-old or less. Canes that are larger or thinner than the width of a pencil should be removed.

6. Tie the cane clippings and weigh them. If their weight comes to 1 lb., the grape vine should be cut until 30 buds remain. For each additional pound, add 10 buds to the amount you allow to remain on each grape vine. This ensures a healthy Concord grape harvest of both quantity and quality.

7. During the summer, prune the grapevine shoots back to the third or fourth leaf after they develop fruit. Remove extra leaves around fruit clusters to allow them adequate sunlight.

Tips & Warnings

• Grapes change color before they fully ripen. To avoid picking grapes that aren't ripe yet, taste one grape first. If it isn't ripe, you'll need to wait longer for the grapes to develop.

References

• Gardening-Guides: Growing Grapes
• Garden Guides: How to Prune Concord Grapevines

Resources

• University of Georgia: Grapes
• Grape Growing: Why Growing Concord Grapes Is So Popular