Concord grapes (Vitis labrusca ‘Concord’) are a widely recognized American variety prized for their deep, blue-black color and distinctive “foxy” flavor. This cold-hardy vine is a popular choice for home growers, primarily used for making juice, jelly, jam, and sweet wines. Successfully establishing a Concord vine begins with selecting and purchasing the right planting stock. This process involves navigating various sources and ensuring the vine is healthy and true to type.
Choosing the Right Source
The initial decision when buying a Concord grape plant is selecting a trustworthy vendor, which generally falls into three main categories.
Local garden centers and nurseries offer the advantage of physically inspecting the vine before purchase. This allows for local advice and eliminates shipping stress, though selection may be limited and plants may not always be certified disease-free.
Specialized viticulture nurseries are often the best choice for serious growers, as they offer the widest selection of rootstocks and clones. These nurseries are typically the source of certified, pathogen-free material, which is necessary for long-term vine health. Their adherence to clean plant programs, often involving rigorous virus testing, provides the highest assurance of quality.
Large online retailers and mail-order catalogs provide convenience and competitive pricing, often shipping dormant plants during the appropriate planting window. Quality can vary significantly, so buyers must rely on the retailer’s reputation. Regardless of the source, always seek a seller who guarantees the plant is a genuine Concord variety and that the stock has been tested for common grapevine viruses.
Bare Root Versus Potted Vines
Concord grapevines are typically sold in two forms, each dictating a specific purchasing and planting timeline.
Bare-root vines are plants dug up while fully dormant, meaning they have no soil surrounding their roots. These are less expensive to purchase and ship, but they must be planted in late winter or early spring before the buds begin to swell.
Upon receiving a bare-root vine, the roots should be soaked in water for three to four hours or overnight to rehydrate them before planting. If immediate planting is not possible, the vines must be “heeled-in,” which means temporarily burying the roots in moist soil in a cool, shaded location to prevent desiccation. This method allows the vine to remain healthy until the permanent planting site is ready.
Potted, or container-grown, vines are sold actively growing in soil and offer greater flexibility in planting time. They can be purchased and planted throughout the growing season, though spring and fall are the most favorable times for establishment. While potted vines are often more expensive, inspect the root ball for signs of “root circling” before purchase, as tightly grown roots can negatively affect long-term growth.
Ensuring a Healthy Selection
The long-term success of a grapevine depends heavily on the health of the plant selected at the time of purchase.
When inspecting dormant stock, look for canes that are plump and firm, indicating good moisture content, rather than shriveled or brittle. A healthy vine should also exhibit well-developed, fibrous roots (if visible) and have buds that look intact and ready to swell.
It is recommended to prioritize certified stock, especially for perennial crops like grapes, where diseases can be impossible to eliminate once established. Buying certified vines helps avoid introducing graft-transmissible diseases like Grapevine Leafroll-associated viruses, which can severely reduce yield and quality over the vine’s lifespan. Confirming the plant is suitable for the local USDA hardiness zone and microclimate is a necessary check.