← Plant Guides

How to Grow Concorde Grape

Wikimedia Commons

Concorde Grape

Vitis labrusca × Vitis vinifera

vine

Concorde is a hybrid table grape variety known for its large, dark purple berries and excellent flavor. It produces dense clusters of sweet, seedless grapes with a distinctive musky taste and crisp texture. This vigorous vine is popular for home gardens and commercial cultivation in cooler climates.

When should you plant Concorde Grape in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Concorde Grape timeline →

Example Concorde Grape timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Concorde Grape

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Concorde Grape

    Around Aug 15

    ≈ 120 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Concorde Grape dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 7-8 hours daily minimum for optimal fruit development
💧
Water: Moderate, consistent moisture during growing season; approximately 1-1.5 inches per week. Reduce watering after fruit set. Water at soil level to minimize disease. Drought-tolerant once established.
📏
Spacing: 72 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 120-150 days from bloom to harvest
🌱
Planting depth: Plant canes with 1-2 buds above soil surface; graft union 1-2 inches above ground if grafted

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil with moderate fertility
pH: 5.5-7.0
Amendments:
compost aged manure perlite or sand for drainage organic matter

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 5-7; hardy to zone 4 with winter protection

4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a

Sign up free to see if Concorde Grape grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.

Get my Concorde Grape timeline →

Growth Stages

1

Dormancy & Early Spring

December-April

Bare canes over winter; buds swell in spring as temperatures warm

Perform dormant pruning in late winter. Remove diseased or weak canes. Prune to a permanent cordon system with 4-6 fruiting spurs. Apply dormant oil spray if mites or scale are present.

2

Vegetative Growth

April-June

Rapid shoot growth with developing leaves; shoots reach 3-6 feet. New tendrils coil around supports.

Provide sturdy trellis or support system. Train main shoots along wires. Remove weak or damaged shoots. Fertilize moderately with balanced NPK every 4-6 weeks. Maintain consistent moisture.

3

Flowering & Fruit Set

May-July

Small green flowers appear in clusters; flowers are self-fertile. After pollination, small green berries develop.

Thin cluster shoots to one per node if overly crowded. Ensure consistent watering. Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilization which promotes excessive foliage. Thin berry clusters to 2-3 clusters per cane for larger fruit.

4

Fruit Development & Ripening

July-September

Berries enlarge and gradually change from green to deep purple-black. Sugar accumulates; berries soften slightly.

Thin excess leaf cover to expose fruit to sunlight, improving color and ripening. Reduce watering slightly. Monitor for pests and disease. Apply fungicide if powdery mildew appears.

5

Harvest & Post-Harvest

August-October

Fully ripe berries are dark purple, sweet, and slightly soft. Vines begin to slow growth as days shorten.

Harvest when berries are fully colored and taste sweet. Remove harvest clusters carefully to avoid damaging remaining shoots. After harvest, allow foliage to continue photosynthesizing until frost. Reduce fertilizer.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

garlic onions chives borage clover comfrey alliums tansy

Avoid planting near:

cabbage brassicas fennel cabbage family crops

Common Pests

  • Apply sulfur dust or potassium bicarbonate in early morning. Improve air circulation by pruning. Avoid overhead watering. Space vines adequately.

  • Apply copper fungicide or sulfur-based treatments. Prune to improve air flow. Remove infected leaves. Use preventive sprays in humid conditions.

  • Hand-pick beetles in early morning when sluggish. Use row covers on young vines. Apply neem oil or spinosad. Avoid traps near grapes as they attract more beetles.

  • Plant on phylloxera-resistant rootstocks. Avoid planting in infested soil. Monitor roots for galls. Purchase certified, disease-free stock.

  • Spray forcefully with water to dislodge. Apply miticide or sulfur spray. Increase humidity. Remove dust from leaves.

  • Remove mummified grapes from previous season. Pheromone traps to monitor populations. Insecticide sprays at critical timing. Prune to expose berries to light.

Uses

🍳

Fresh eating and table consumption

Culinary

Concorde grapes are primarily grown as a dessert grape for fresh eating. Their large size, seedless nature, and sweet, musky flavor make them ideal for eating fresh off the vine, adding to fruit salads, or serving as a premium table fruit. [source]

🍳

Juice and preserves

Culinary

The juice from Concorde grapes can be processed into fresh juice, juice concentrates, and jellies. Their natural sugar content and flavor profile make them suitable for homemade grape juice and preserves. [source]

🍳

Wine production

Culinary

While primarily a table grape, Concorde can also be used in home winemaking, though it is not a traditional wine variety. Its high sugar content and aromatic qualities contribute to sweet or fortified wine styles. [source]

🏠

Vine and leaf ornamental value

Household

Beyond fruit production, Concorde grapevines provide excellent ornamental coverage for arbors, pergolas, and trellises. The large green leaves and dense growth habit offer shade and aesthetic appeal throughout the growing season. [source]

🦋

Pollinator and wildlife support

Wildlife

Grape flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting local pollinator populations. Birds are attracted to ripening berries, though netting may be needed to protect the harvest. [source]

Harvest Tips

Harvest in late August to September when berries are fully dark purple and taste sweet. Concorde grapes do not ripen off the vine, so wait until fully mature. Cut clusters with hand pruners rather than pulling. Handle carefully to avoid bruising; grapes with slight bloom (waxy coating) are freshest. Morning harvest after dew dries is ideal. Store in cool conditions (32-35°F) with high humidity for up to 4 weeks.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Concorde grapes are a cross between American (Vitis labrusca) and European (Vitis vinifera) grapes, combining the cold-hardiness of American varieties with the quality characteristics of wine grapes.
  • 🌱 The name 'Concorde' refers to the grape's role in bridging two grape species—a concordance or agreement between two parents, much like the supersonic Concorde aircraft that connected continents.
  • 🌱 Concorde is known for its distinctive 'foxy' or musky flavor characteristic of many Vitis labrusca hybrids, a flavor profile that is polarizing—deeply loved by some and less appealing to others accustomed to traditional wine grape flavors.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Hybrid pH Pollination Trellis
Shop Concorde Grape plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Concorde Grape planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Concorde Grape seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Concorde Grape timeline →