Vitis labrusca 'Catawba'
fruitCatawba is the historic American pink-skinned grape that became the first commercially successful US wine grape in the mid-1800s. The labrusca grape produces clusters of dusty-red berries with the classic foxy aroma of native American grapes, slipskin texture, and a balanced sweet-tart juice that makes excellent rose, sweet pink wines, and grape juice.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 5 days
Harvest
~24 months
to first harvest
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
8 ft in row, 10 ft between rows
Planting Depth
Same depth as nursery
Soil pH
5.5-6.5
Soil Type
Average, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 8
When to Fertilize
Early spring as buds swell
Fertilizer
10-10-10 at 2 oz per vine year one; adjust by soil test thereafter
Plant in full sun on well-drained loam, hardy in zones 5 to 8. Set vines 8 ft apart in rows 10 ft apart at nursery depth. Train to a 2-wire trellis: lower wire 3 ft, top wire 5.5 to 6 ft. Catawba ripens 2 to 3 weeks later than Concord, in mid to late October, which lets sugars build to 17 to 20 Brix. Prune hard each winter to 60 to 80 buds per mature vine; American grapes need substantial annual pruning to balance yield and quality.
Direct sow
Apr 15
Projected first harvest
Sep 22 · Year 3
Year 1
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Rake fallen leaves, remove mummies in fall, prune for airflow; protective fungicide at bloom in wet years
Hand-pick into soapy water; never use pheromone traps
Open canopy, sulfur sprays during humid weather
Use grafted vines on resistant rootstock
Catawba ripens mid to late October. Taste-test for sugar; sugar climbs in the last 2 to 3 weeks before harvest. Snip whole clusters with pruners. Catawba is the foundation grape for traditional sweet pink wines (a single-varietal Catawba rose is the historic recipe), excellent grape juice, and jelly. The slipskin separates beautifully from the seeded pulp when cooked.
About 67 calories per 100 g with 0.9 g fiber, 4 mg vitamin C, and 191 mg potassium. American grapes carry distinctive flavor compounds (methyl anthranilate) that contribute the famous grapey aroma, and like all dark grapes, Catawba is a notable source of resveratrol and anthocyanins.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.
Year 2
Year 3