Home Gardening

Enjoying the fruits of the vine
The Coast Gardener Newspaper and Web Column - September 8, 2001

After a recent visit back home, I was happy to bring a few jars of muscadine jelly with me to the Coast. Dad's vineyard was loaded with this Mississippi native fruit. Muscadine jelly ranks right up there with blackberry as a favorite of mine.

What about these things called scuppernongs? According to my research, the New World colonists first recorded finding muscadine vines in 1554 growing along the Scuppernong River in North Carolina. Apparently, this is the reason so many people call muscadines by this name.

Muscadines are very hardy and live throughout the state. They live a long time and are resistant to many diseases and insects, although an occasional borer might do some damage to the main trunk.

They make great jellies, jams and, of course, wine! They are also great handpicked right off the vine.

Muscadines make excellent fruiting vines for the homeowner who loves them. My dad only has four vines that produce enough juice that makes enough jelly to last our whole family over a year.

If you grow lots of vines, however, you will need lots of space. Besides plenty of space, a trellis or supporting structure and a sunny location is all you really need. Plant muscadines from November through February. Space the plants 20 feet apart, which allows the main arms on each plant to grow 10 feet in each direction on a horizontal trellis. Space the rows 12 feet apart.

Pay attention when selecting your vines. Some varieties make only female flowers. These are called imperfect or female-flowered varieties. Others produce male and female flowers. These are called perfect or pollinator varieties. Vines should be labeled accordingly when you purchase them.

One perfect vine can easily pollinate six to eight imperfect vines. If your vines are planted in a row, every third vine should be a pollinator variety. Remember to select a pollinator variety if one plant is all you need; otherwise, you will not enjoy the "fruits" of your labor!

Muscadines do like fertilizer, especially the first year they are planted. Newly transplanted vines need about one-half pound (about a cup) of 8-8-8 fertilizer in the early spring of the first growing season. Additional fertilizer applications should be made in late May and early July.

More fertilizer is needed as the vines grow from year to year. Mature vines need about five pounds of 8-8-8 in March followed by two more pounds in May and July.

Vines enjoy a heavy layer of pine straw mulch to control weeds and conserve moisture. Like many other fruit types, muscadine vines often drop their fruit during times of extended drought or extreme heat. Leaves may scorch and fall from the vines exposing the fruit to the sunlight.

It is important to prune vines during early spring every year for maximum fruit production. It can be a tedious task, but it is important if you want abundant fruit. The basic muscadine plant has a trunk and cordons (lateral fruit arms). The fruiting units (spurs) develop on the cordons. During the dormant season, cut back all the previous year's growth to spurs 2 to 4 inches long. This leaves about two buds on each spur. Remove shoots that are not needed for spurs.

With proper planting, pruning, fertilizing and harvesting, you can enjoy tasty muscadines, or if you prefer, scuppernongs, in your landscape each year.

I was asked to mention in this week's column the Gulf Coast Pond Society's seventh annual pond tour. The tour starts today at 10 a.m. with area gardeners opening up their landscapes to showcase beautiful water gardens. It will continue next Saturday as well. Tickets are $5 per person and one ticket includes admission for both days. Call 388-8827, 388-7172, or 452-3137 for details and ticket information.

These archived gardening columns were written by Chance McDavid, former Harrison County Extension Agent.