How & With What Do I Fertilize My Seedless Concord Grapes?

Planting

• Plant Concord grapes in the spring, after the last frost lifts. Even hardy grapes prefer a warm, sunny start, and fall starts may lead to winter failures. Choose a site that offers quick drainage, full sunshine and good air circulation, and avoid low-lying spots. Grapes fail in inadequate planting sites, regardless of nutrition.

First-Year Fertilizer

• Plant grapevines in a rich, crumbly mix of organic compost and natural soil to give them immediate nutrition and moisture retention. The Ohio State University Extension suggests waiting until seven days after planting for the first fertilizer application. Sprinkle 8 oz. of granular 10-10-10 fertilizer around each grapevine, but keep the granules 1 foot away from the trunk to avoid burning. Mix the fertilizer into the top 3 inches of soil, and then water the grapevines.

Maintenance Fertilizer

• When grapevines are two years old, increase the fertilizer application to 1 lb. of granular 10-10-10, and apply it 30 days before the spring thaw. In the third year and on, increase to 1-1/2 lbs. of fertilizer. Always water the grapevines immediately after fertilizing to properly dissolve the granules.

Supplements

• Supplement fertilizer applications with new compost additions for each grapevine in the spring. Mix 2 inches of organic compost into the top 3 inches of soil in a 2-foot circle to encourage loose drainage and nutrition. Use organic mulch in this circle to keep the soil moist, warm and free of weeds. Replenish the mulch layer as it breaks down.