Home Gardening

Muscadines delicious late summer treat
The Coast Gardener Newspaper and Web Column - August 17, 2002

Muscadines are ripening right now, and I must say that our vines back home are loaded. It's hard to imagine what the vines looked like after they were pruned back to a bunch of twigs in February. Plump, juicy fruit clusters are hanging on the vines ready to eat or process for jelly. Muscadine jelly is a favorite of mine to spread on my grandmother's homemade buttered biscuits. I have to admit blackberry runs a close second!

The biggest mistake people make is not pruning their vines. They simply will not produce much, if any, fruit without it. It only takes a couple of vines, however, to produce enough fruit for an average family.

If you grow lots of vines, 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.

If you still need help, contact the Gulf Coast Garden Talk Extension Hotline at 865-4483 or toll free 1-866-GARDEN-8. Master Gardeners will be eager to help you.

Master Gardener Training

Speaking of Master Gardeners, I am pleased to announce that the Mississippi State University Extension Service has scheduled a Master Gardener training beginning September 13 and continuing until November 15. The course is ten weeks long and will be from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. every Friday during this period. The only deviation is on October 18. That week's course will be held on Thursday, October 17 instead. The course will be taught at the Harrison County Extension Service office at the corner of 17th Street and 24th Avenue in downtown Gulfport.

An application process is used to select potential candidates. You may request an application form from the Harrison County Extension Service. The course costs $100; registration is not complete until an application form and payment is received by September 1. Interested persons in the Master Gardener volunteer program should call 865-4227.

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