Grape Vines

When to Plant Grape Vines

Spring is the best time to plant grape vines. However most of the year will work for planting grapes if you use some common sense. Summer planting is fine if you compensate with plenty of water to help your grape plant establish and handle the heat. Muscadine and Scuppernong grape vines are particularly heat tolerant. Cool region gardeners should plant at least 6 to 8 weeks prior to the ground freezing to give grapevines some time to establish their roots before winter.

How to Plant Grape Vines

Be sure your climate and planting site is appropriate for your grapevine prior to purchasing it. Water your potted plant well prior to planting. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball. Place your grape vine plant in the hole. In order to avoid planting too deep the root ball should be slightly higher than your soil line. Next, backfill the soil and tamp it down with your hands to remove air pockets. Water deeply and thoroughly saturate the soil. Water deeply once per day for the first week. Then 2 to 3 times per week for the next couple weeks. You should water deeply at least once weekly for the first 2 to 3 months while your grapevine is establishing.

How to Harvest Grapes

Pick muscadine and other grapes when they are ripe. Grapes do not ripen after they are picked from the vine so do not pick too early. Taste is the best indicator of ripeness. So try a couple before harvesting. When the grapes are sweet and yummy start picking!

When to Prune Grape Vines

Prune grape vines in late winter or early spring when they are dormant for best results. Minor grape vine trimming can be done any time of the year.

How to Prune Grape Vines

Scuppernong and muscadine grape vines can be trained to have one trunk and 2 “arm” branches secured to a trellis other upright structure. After your grape vine has been growing for about one year, select the sturdiest shoot and trim off the others. Allow the top 2 buds to form the arm branches and pinch back any side shoots as they emerge. Muscadine fruit grows on new growth so you can prune back your grapevines yearly to control the size and shape. Leave a few inches of growth for spur formation on the branches.

How to Transplant Grape Vines

Transplant grape vines in fall or late winter/early spring for best results. Prune back the vine to about 1 foot from the ground. Chop the plant out of the ground with a sharp shovel in a circular shape about 10 inches from the trunk. Undercut the root ball and then dig it up. Have a hole prepared ahead of time so you can replant your grapevine immediately. You can place the plant on a tarp to make it easier to move. Follow the planting instructions above to replant your vine.

How to Grow Grape Vines

Grape vines are easy to grow once their roots are established. Newly planted grapes should be watered thoroughly 1 to 3 times per week for the first 2 to 3 months while they are establishing. Start by watering them 3 times per week for the first few weeks. By month 3 you should be scaled back to once weekly. Grape vines are drought tolerant once they are established but a moist, well-drained soil (especially for the first year) will offer the best growth and fruit quality and quantity. Use a slow release fertilizer in spring to feed grape plants. Prune grapes when they are dormant to invigorate an older plant, keep the plant shaped, or the vine size controlled.

Muscadine Grape Vine

Muscadine grapes are native to the southeastern and south central United States from Delaware to Florida and Oklahoma to Texas. This grape vine is low maintenance, heat, humidity, and drought tolerant. It produces a heavy harvest. This sweet juicy purple grape has many health benefits and is used in wine, juice, jellies, jams, and desserts.

Scuppernong Grape Vine

The scuppernong is a green muscadine grape with a bronze hue. This grape vine is easy to grow and produces a large crop. Scuppernong grapevines are native to the southern United States.