When to Plant Muscadine Grape Seed?

Conditions

• Muscadine grapes prefer warm, relatively wet climates. They are sensitive to very cold winters and will not grow well where the temperature drops below 10 degrees. Growing muscadine grapes in very cold areas requires winter protection or indoor growing. Muscadines prefer full sunlight and well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

Preparation

• The year before planting, test soil pH and amend it with fertilizers and other chemicals, if necessary. Performing soil amendments well in advance allows conditions to normalize before planting your grapes. Oklahoma State University recommends removing all spreading perennial grasses, such as Johnsongrass, and replacing them with nonspreading grasses. This prevents the grass from competing with young grapevines for nutrients. Plant these grasses the fall before planting your grapevines, leaving spaces to plant the grapes the following year.

Germination

• Start grape seeds indoors for best results. Purchase commercial muscadine grape seeds or extract your own from wild fruit. Drying the seeds and placing them in the refrigerator for three months encourages good germination. Plant grape seeds in small peat pots during early spring before the last frost. Keep the seedlings in a warm, humid place with plenty of sun until the danger of frost is passed, and then move them to a sheltered, outdoor location.

Planting

• Plant young muscadine grapevines between midspring and midsummer after the ground is warm and the last frost has passed. Plant the grapes 20 to 24 feet apart at the same depth as in their original pots. Water the plants thoroughly and regularly with drip irrigation. In warm climates, plant young muscadines in the fall. Fall-planted grapevines are at risk of damage from early frost but have more time to establish a healthy root system before the growing season.