Concord grape (Vitis labrusca), photographi

How to Grow Concord Grape

Vitis labrusca · Zones 4-8

Concord Grape is a long-term planting — a young vine typically takes about three years to bear its first real fruit, and then produces for years. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 8.

Concord Grape — the short answer

Concord Grape: grown in zones 4–8, full sun, pH 4.9–7.5, ~3 yr to first harvest. It also needs ~600 winter chill hours to fruit (Mississippi State University Extension P3067).

USDA zones
4–8
Not verified
Soil pH
4.9–7.5
FAO ECOCROP
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground Plant Database
To First Harvest
~3 yr
Cornell; WSU-TFREC
Frost-kill temp (growing season)
32°F
FAO ECOCROP
Winter chill needed
~600 hrs
Mississippi State University Extension P3067

Plant data: Growable Ground Plant Database, compiled from FAO ECOCROP, USDA PLANTS and university Extension sources — each tile names its own row's source, because per-field provenance varies.

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Which pests actually threaten concord grape where you grow?

Japanese beetle and spotted lanternfly are only documented in part of the country, so the answer depends on where you plant. Enter your location and we'll tell you which ones reach your land — and the move that beats each one.

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What Concord Grape is

Concord Grape grows as a perennial and reaches around 20 feet at maturity. It blooms green in late spring.

How to grow Concord Grape

Concord Grape grows in USDA zones 4 through 8 and takes about three years to begin bearing. Concord Grape does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.9 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 2,200 growing degree days to mature and about 600 hours of winter chill to set fruit (Mississippi State University Extension P3067), which is why climate matters as much as soil.

USDA Zones

4-8

Not verified

Soil pH

4.9 - 7.5

FAO ECOCROP

Sun

Full Sun

Growable Ground plant catalog

Drainage

well (dry spells)

Growable Ground plant catalog

Frost Kill Temperature

32°F

Where cold starts killing growing tissue. Not a winter-survival floor — a dormant perennial takes far colder, which its hardiness zone answers.

FAO ECOCROP

Minimum Growing Temperature

42.8°F

Below this it stops growing rather than dies — a pace limit, not a survival limit.

FAO ECOCROP

To First Harvest

~3 years

Concord grape (V. labrusca); cool-climate cultivar typical. ~3 yr from vine to first light crop; full production year 4-5.

Cornell; WSU-TFREC

GDD Required

2200+

Growing degree-days of accumulated warmth it needs to mature — humid summers reach this faster than cool coastal ones.

Growable Ground plant catalog

Mature Height

20 ft

Growable Ground plant catalog

Chill Hours

600+

Winter hours below ~45°F it needs to fruit — too-mild winters can leave it bloom-shy.

Mississippi State University Extension P3067

  1. Start the season right

    Plant concord grape in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.

  2. Match the soil

    Concord Grape prefers pH 4.9 to 7.5 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.

  3. Water steadily

    Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.

  4. Harvest at maturity

    Concord Grape is ready about three years after planting (Cornell; WSU-TFREC). Pick when the fruit is full-colored and parts easily from the stem.

Where Concord Grape thrives

Concord Grape is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 8. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.

A USDA zone is a 10°F band of average annual extreme winter minimum, so zones 4–8 spans average winter lows from -30°F to 20°F (USDA PHZM 2023). Across the 50 states and DC, that band covers 25 outright and splits 26 more down the middle — and which side of that line your land sits on changes the answer.

Zones 4–8 highlighted on the USDA national hardiness zone map

Zones 4–8·Where Concord Grape growsOpen map →

This map is derived from the USDA ARS / PRISM Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) and is not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Where Concord Grape stands, state by state

Concord Grape is rated for zones 4–8 — a cold floor USDA puts at -30 to -20°F. Across the 50 states and DC, 25 sit fully inside that band, the line runs through 26 more, and 0 sit outside it — and inside every split state, the same line runs on at county grain.

Fully inside zones 4–8

25 states

3 of 25 shown

The line runs through

26 states

3 of 26 shown

Concord Grape’s band covers part of each of these states — which side of the line your county sits on changes the answer, and each state page draws it.

State zone extents: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM) 2023. A zone is a 10°F band of average annual extreme minimum temperature, so a state that splits the band contains the boundary — its own page draws the county line, and a parcel report resolves which side your land sits on.

Good to know

One caution for pet owners — concord grape is toxic to dogs (severe severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)

Concord Grape isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.

Before you harvest concord grape, know your soil

Anything you grow to eat takes up what's in the ground it grows in, so it's worth knowing what's documented near you before you plant concord grape for food. Our free screen reads 8 federal source types across roughly 1.8M indexed sites and shows which sit near your address and which way they drain. It's a screening estimate from public records and proximity — not a soil test — so a nearby record means a soil test is worth it, not that your soil is unsafe.

Your land is one point inside Concord Grape's range

This page resolves to the species. Your state page draws the county line, and a report reads the parcel — the soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates on your exact ground, which no species average can see.

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See if Concord Grape will thrive on your land

Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether concord grape actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

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How we know this about Concord Grape

The figures above are cited per row, not per site: the pH band names this plant’s own source column, the three temperature figures each carry their own, and days-to-maturity cites the publication that actually lists it. All of it comes from the Growable Ground Plant Database — a compilation over FAO ECOCROP, USDA PLANTS, and university Extension sources, published openly with per-field provenance.

Grounded inUSDA PLANTS Database•ASPCA

Frequently asked questions

Can I grow Concord Grape in my zone?

Concord Grape grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8. Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.

How long does Concord Grape take to grow?

Concord Grape is ready to harvest about three years after planting (Cornell; WSU-TFREC). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.

When should you plant Concord Grape?

Most growers plant concord grape after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.

How much sun does Concord Grape need?

Concord Grape needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.

What soil does Concord Grape need?

Concord Grape prefers soil pH 4.9 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.

Does Concord Grape attract pollinators?

Concord Grape isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.

Is Concord Grape safe for pets?

Concord Grape is toxic to dogs with severe severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)