How to Care for Concord Grapevines

Ensure that the soil in which you plant your concord grapes is well-drained, with 4 to 6 inches of mulch around the base of the plant. Add nitrogen to the soil around the plant two weeks after planting. Use 1 lb of nitrogen per individual plant. Reapply the same amount of nitrogen to the soil every year early in the spring.

Give your concord grape vines as much sun as possible by planting them on southern slopes of land or the south side of your house. Remove all canes from your grape vines -- except the most healthy one -- and trim broken or overly long roots before planting.

Shorten the remaining cane to two strong buds after planting. Train the stronger of the two canes that develop from the buds by securing it to a five foot tall stake. Remove any shoots springing from the base of both canes.

Remove the weaker of the two canes early in the following spring.

Proper and well-timed pruning will result in ample grape yields.

Protect or "over-winter" your Concord grape plant from winter weather by bending the trunk down and covering it with half a foot of soil or mulch. Unearth the trunk in mid-spring after surface frost has thawed, and secure the vine to a stake or trellis by tying it in place. As the unearthed trunk eventually grows shoots, tie these shoots -- in an upright position -- to the upper wires of a trellis. When the tied shoots have become new canes around the fall season, trim them to short spurs containing one or two buds.

Protect your vines and grapes from being pecked and destroyed by birds by placing netting over them.