Muscadine Grape
Vitis rotundifolia 'Carlos'
fruitCarlos is the self-fertile bronze muscadine grape, the most widely planted muscadine in the southeastern US. The medium 1/2 in bronze grapes ripen in late summer with the distinctive musky-sweet flavor that defines muscadine wines, juice, and jam. The vigorous heat-loving vines thrive where European and American grapes fail (zones 7 to 9).
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 5 days
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Harvest
~24 months
to first harvest
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
12-20 ft in row, 10 ft between rows
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Planting Depth
Same depth as nursery
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Soil pH
5.5-6.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Average, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 7 – 10
When to Fertilize
Early spring as buds swell
Fertilizer
10-10-10 at 2 oz per vine in year one; adjust by soil test thereafter
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant in full sun on well-drained loam in zones 7 to 9; muscadines need long warm humid summers. Set vines 12 to 20 ft apart (much wider than other grapes; muscadines are vigorous) at nursery depth. Train to a single-wire cordon trellis at 5 ft. Carlos is self-fertile so a single vine bears, though planting another muscadine boosts yield. Prune hard each winter to maintain spurs along the cordon.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Sep 27 · Year 3
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Year 1
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Hyssop: May improve grape vigor and repel aphids
- Chives: Sulfur compounds may help suppress fungal pressure
- Yarrow: Hosts beneficial parasitoid wasps
- White Clover: Living aisle mulch fixes nitrogen
❌ Keep away from
Cabbage
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Muscadines are highly disease-resistant; basic sanitation (remove fallen leaves and mummies) is usually enough
Hand-pick into soapy water at dawn
Muscadines are highly resistant; this is the main reason muscadines thrive where Vitis vinifera fails in the South
Net mature vines as harvest approaches
🌾 Harvest & storage
Carlos ripens late summer through early fall (August into October in most muscadine regions). Unlike other grapes, muscadines do not all ripen together within a cluster; berries drop individually when fully ripe. Shake the vine over a tarp or pick into a bucket below the cordon for the easiest harvest. Muscadines have thick skins that slip from the seeded pulp; cooked muscadine juice and jelly are Southern classics.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
About 57 calories per 100 g with 3.9 g fiber and exceptional resveratrol levels (muscadines have 2 to 5 times the resveratrol of Vitis vinifera grapes). The thick skins are particularly rich in ellagic acid and quercetin, polyphenols studied for cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory effects.
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.