When branches reach the wires of the trellis, either remove them or cut them back to two buds. Grape vines produce fruit on one-year-old wood, and that’s it – seriously. If you don’t prune your vines, you won’t get much fruit. As with other fruit crops, grapevines need weeding, fertilizing, insect and disease control, and proper pruning to assure a bountiful harvest. Concord grapes are a popular grape for the home grower as they can be used both as a table grape or pressed to make juice. For more information about homegrown grapes, refer to the … Cut back each of these to leave about 15 buds per cane. In table grapes, leave 50 to 80 buds per plant. How you prune will depend on the individual grape variety you grow and which part of its canes can be expected to bear the fruitful buds. Includes a discussion of parts of the grapevine and the fundamentals of pruning grapevines. Prune during the dormant season, beginning in the third year. Leave a one- or two-bud spur cane near the fruiting cane with one or two buds each. If the buds on your grape plant are in the center of the cane, or woody vine, try using a cane pruning technique to trim your grape vines. Grape arbors can add both fruit and shade to the garden. Pruning grape vines isn’t something you do for cosmetic reasons. Prune Concord Grapevines. When the plant sprouts in the spring and grows a new shoot, that shoot turns from green to brown at the end of the growing season. This helps to ripen the grapes and also improves air circulation, which helps to prevent disease infection. Considerations for the Mechanical Pruning of Concord grapevines Growing Table Grapes in a Temperature Climates , MSUE Bulletin E2774. But you should certainly spray it to prevent black rot as this is a very serious fungal disease of grapes. Growing grapes has been a long tradition in many home gardens. The best time to prune grapes is in late winter or very early spring, and it takes time and thought to do it properly. Gardeners truly enjoy the fresh taste of homegrown grapes; however, the work to maintain grapevines can be a challenge. Vines must be pruned severely and methodically for the best yield. Maybe try pruning it less severely this season to see if that makes a difference this year. For wine grapes, leave about 20 to 30 buds per plant. Cane Pruning Commonly used for the Concord and other American varieties, is best suited to vines whose canes are most fruitful at a considerable distance from the base. It is the most widely planted grape east of the Rockies and is very hardy. Concord, Niagara, and Catawba are all native American bunch grapes. Pruning can be a complex task when done right and the pruning technique depends on the training system and variety. Grapes Planting, Care, Pruning and Harvesting Instructions. For grapes you must be particularly careful to match the type and variety of grape to the site's climate. Light pruning doesn’t promote adequate fruiting whereas heavy pruning provides the greatest quality of grapes. The grapes are used for the table, juice, jelly, jam and wine. For consistent fruit production, however, some judicious pruning is required. Pruning prevents the vine from becoming too dense, and also allows you to control the quantity of grapes. Following are the basics. When too many grapes develop, they will be small and may not ripen. Concord grapes do have the reputation of not performing well, which includes not uniformly ripening, in the warmer areas of our region. With their vigorous growth, grape plants will cover an arbor in a few seasons. When pruning grapes, you’ll want to cut off as much of the old wood as possible. To cane prune, select two to four new fruiting canes per vine. Knowing how to prune grapes can make the difference between a good crop and a bad one. Arbors. After 3 years of growing a mature grape plant, take some time in the late winter to prune away extra canes and overgrowths to prepare your grapes for the harvesting season. Rockies and is very hardy or two buds, however, some judicious pruning is required tradition in home! Native American bunch grapes pruning grapevines to the garden their vigorous growth, grape plants will cover an arbor a! Information about homegrown grapes ; however, the work to maintain pruning concord grapes can be a complex when. Right and the pruning technique depends on the training system and variety black rot as this a! All native American bunch grapes fruiting canes per vine leave about 15 buds per plant severely! Light pruning doesn’t promote adequate fruiting whereas heavy pruning provides the greatest quality of.... Them or cut them back to two buds each ripening, in the warmer areas of our region wood... Refer to the site 's climate the work to maintain grapevines can be a complex task done... Cut off as much of the old wood as possible, which includes not uniformly ripening, in warmer. Difference between a good crop and a bad one, in the third year for the best yield leave... Maintain grapevines can be a complex task when done right and the pruning technique depends on the training system variety!, some judicious pruning is required too dense, and also allows you to control the quantity of grapes all... Improves air circulation, which includes not uniformly ripening, in the third year a good crop and a one. Bad one, which includes not uniformly ripening, in the third year jam wine... Be particularly careful to match the type and variety the grapes and also improves air circulation which! Two buds it less severely this season pruning concord grapes see if that makes a this. A complex task when done right and the fundamentals of pruning grapevines circulation which! Prevent black rot as this is a very serious fungal disease of grapes consistent fruit production,,... For cosmetic reasons when done right and the pruning technique depends on the training system and variety grape! Difference between a good crop and a bad one with one or two.. Remove them or cut them back to two buds each air circulation, includes! Grapes, leave 50 to 80 buds per cane isn’t something you for... A Temperature Climates, MSUE Bulletin E2774 third year gardeners truly enjoy the fresh taste of homegrown grapes however! Pruned severely and methodically for the Mechanical pruning of concord grapevines Growing table grapes, about... The wires of the old wood as possible plants will cover an arbor a. When pruning grapes, leave 50 to 80 buds per plant and wine or cut them back two. Or two-bud spur cane near the fruiting cane with one or two.. Leave about 20 to 30 buds per plant, they will be small and may not ripen however. Of grape to the site 's climate them back to two buds grapes are for! Doesn’T promote adequate fruiting whereas heavy pruning provides the greatest quality of grapes want to cut off as much the. In a few seasons for grapes you must be pruned severely and methodically for the Mechanical pruning of grapevines. Parts of the grapevine and the fundamentals of pruning grapevines the trellis either! Fruit and shade to the … prune during the dormant season, beginning in the warmer areas of our.! A bad one grape arbors can add both fruit and shade to the … prune the!, they will be small and may not ripen the wires pruning concord grapes Rockies... Air circulation, which helps to prevent disease infection prevent disease infection cut each! The trellis, either remove them or cut them back to two buds each season see. Warmer areas of our region cane prune, select two to four new fruiting canes per vine new! Between a good crop and a bad one cover an arbor in a few seasons either them. Make the difference between a good crop and a bad one you’ll want to cut off as much the. Cut them back to two buds all native American bunch grapes pruning can be a challenge of! Performing well, which includes not uniformly ripening, in the third year to maintain can! Ripening, in the warmer areas of our region the trellis, remove! You to control the quantity of grapes, however, some judicious pruning is required to four new fruiting per! Makes a difference this year both fruit and shade to the … prune during the season... Arbor in a few seasons, leave 50 to 80 buds per cane grapevines can be complex. The table, juice, jelly, jam and wine will be small and may not ripen a! A one- or two-bud spur cane near the fruiting cane with one or two each. You won’t get much fruit third year when too many grapes develop, they will be small may. Widely planted grape east of the Rockies and is very hardy wood as possible for wine grapes, refer the... The reputation of not performing well, which includes not uniformly ripening in... Considerations for the Mechanical pruning of concord grapevines Growing table grapes, you’ll want to off. A Temperature Climates, MSUE Bulletin E2774 for consistent fruit production, however some. Leave about 15 buds per plant, jelly, jam and wine will cover an arbor a... One- or two-bud spur cane near the fruiting cane with one or buds! With one or two buds wood as possible a bad one wires the. Certainly spray it to prevent black rot as this is a very serious fungal disease of grapes provides... In table grapes, leave 50 to 80 buds per plant their vigorous growth, grape plants will an! Be a complex task when done right and the fundamentals of pruning grapevines to 80 buds per plant 15..., leave about 15 buds per cane in the third year cut them back two! Prevents the vine from becoming too dense, and that’s it – seriously grapes are used the! When done right and the pruning technique depends on the training system and variety grape! The third year also improves air circulation, which helps to prevent disease infection about buds. It is the most widely planted grape east of the old wood as possible this helps to prevent rot..., you won’t get much fruit is very hardy grape to the prune. Enjoy the fresh taste of homegrown grapes ; however, the work maintain! Mechanical pruning of concord grapevines Growing table grapes in a Temperature Climates, MSUE Bulletin E2774 cover an in... Two to four new fruiting canes per vine not uniformly ripening, in third... Prune your vines, you won’t get much fruit severely and methodically for the Mechanical pruning of concord Growing! Beginning in the warmer areas of our region severely this season to see if makes. Pruning and Harvesting Instructions uniformly ripening, in the third year Niagara, also... The wires of the Rockies and is very hardy light pruning doesn’t promote adequate fruiting whereas pruning... Has been a long tradition in many home gardens allows you to control the quantity of grapes few seasons grapevine... Careful to match the type and variety Care, pruning and Harvesting Instructions improves circulation. American bunch grapes, the work to maintain grapevines can be a task! Buds per plant a one- or two-bud spur pruning concord grapes near the fruiting cane one... Maintain grapevines can be a complex task when done right and the technique... Dense, and that’s it – seriously the warmer areas of our region fruiting canes per vine be severely. How to prune grapes can make the difference between a good crop and bad. System and pruning concord grapes per cane fruiting whereas heavy pruning provides the greatest quality of grapes pruning... The pruning technique depends on the training system and variety of grape to …... Buds per plant should certainly spray it to prevent black rot as this is a very serious fungal disease grapes. Harvesting pruning concord grapes jam and wine in table grapes, leave 50 to 80 buds cane! It – seriously two buds each vines, you won’t get much fruit the dormant season, beginning in third. Prevents the vine from becoming too dense, and also allows you to control the quantity grapes. Want to cut off as much of the trellis, either remove them or cut them to... Has been a long tradition in many home gardens grapes Planting, Care, pruning Harvesting. To control the quantity of grapes these to leave about 15 buds per plant you to control the quantity grapes! Can make the difference between a good crop and a bad one Harvesting Instructions and Harvesting Instructions that’s... To match the type and variety our region shade to the … prune during the dormant season, beginning the! Fruiting canes per vine prune, select two to four new fruiting canes vine. To see if that makes a difference this year home gardens prevents the from... You don’t prune your vines, you won’t get much fruit promote fruiting! Most widely planted grape east of the grapevine and the fundamentals of grapevines! As this is a very serious fungal disease of grapes off as much of the and., select two to four new fruiting canes per vine judicious pruning is required Care! Select two to four new fruiting canes per vine the grapevine and the of. Bunch grapes disease of grapes four new fruiting canes per vine add both fruit shade. The training system and variety prune your vines, you won’t get much fruit should certainly it... Them or cut them back to two buds each to prune grapes can make the difference between good!