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Growing Concord grapes is a very popular choice for the home gardener. It’s easy to see why. Concord grapes are little marble-sized packages of pure sweetness, known for their deep purple color and distinctive scent. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? And yet, while the tradition of grape growing has been around for thousands of years, the practice of growing Concord grapes only started in the late 1800’s.

Ephraim Wales Bull was the guy who developed the Concord grape variety. He did this by experimenting with the seeds of wild grapes which were indigenous to the area…the area being Concord, Massachusetts. This region is known for harsh winter frosts and anyone who has tried their hand at grape growing knows that frost is the natural enemy of healthy grapes. Concord grapes have a natural resilience and ripen early so they are ideal for such climates. Still, these grapes only enjoyed local fame until Mr. Bull entered them in a horticultural contest and they won.

Today, growing Concord grapes is on the rise as a hobby and they are known throughout the world. A lot of people are drawn to the aesthetic appeal of the vine and it can be seen in many a backyard. Concord vines are excellent on trellises and arbors as they spread quite nicely and can offer a great deal of shade. The grapes themselves are delicious straight off the vine but can be made into a range of items including jellies, jams and juice. The sweetness of this variety of grape makes it an exceptional choice for such products, as does the natural coloration.

Growing Concord grapes in vineyards is becoming increasingly popular as well. It is definitely a matter of taste though. Some people don’t like very sweet wines and prefer those with a dry aftertaste. For this reason, other grape varieties moved up in the ranks. However, there has been a recent revival of Concord grapes as wine grapes, particularly in dessert and kosher wines. It is also possible to create a dry wine using Concord grapes if a sufficient level of ripeness is achieved.

While these grapes are just one variety among many, the popularity of growing Concord grapes can be attributed in part to their incredible versatility. Very few other types can be incorporated into quite as many products. Concord grapes have been the foundation on which companies such as Welch’s have been built. In fact, these grapes have been known to be referred to as ‘the grape for the millions’.

Not only that, but Concord grapes can be of some benefit in the medical community as well. Recent scientific studies have resulted in evidence that these grapes have great antioxidant properties and can aid in lowering the risk of heart disease. That’s why you can find products on the market right now which use Concord grapes and are approved by the American Heart Association. For this reason the consumption rates are up so it’s a good time to be growing Concord grapes.

Growing Concord grapes is not all that difficult. In fact, they are one of the easier varieties to grow and are mainly found east of the Rockies. New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan are large producers of these grapes. They are much more adept at dealing with cooler temperatures and, as Mr. Bull intended, they ripen early in the season, thereby allowing them to avoid the frost. Concord grapes are also not as picky as some other varieties when it comes to soil type. Still, they do require soil which can retain a fair amount of moisture. The relative ease of growing Concord grapes, and the high demand for certain products, makes them a very productive crop.