Muscadines

One of the true native southern fruits that many homeowners enjoy are Muscadine grapes. Muscadines are a popular with home owners in Mississippi because of their natural adaptability, resistance to pests, and the delicious fruit. Today I am at MSU's McNeil Research Unit in Pearl River County where the USDA/Agricultural Research Service grows a wide variety of Muscadines. Muscadines grow well in the heat and high humidity of Mississippi and in late summer will reward the homeowner with their sweet, fruity flavors. Muscadines should be planted from November through February. Space the plants 20 feet apart, which allows the main arms on each plant to grow up to 10 feet in each direction on a horizontal trellis. The basic Muscadine plant has a trunk and cordons or lateral arms that are trained on trellises for support. The fruiting spurs develop on the cordons. Trellises in home plantings are of simple design. The most popular is a single horizontal wire attached at a height of 51⁄2 feet above the ground attached to posts 20 feet apart. Commercial growers use a double curtain trellis. There are several varieties of muscadines to choose from. Three muscadines that are commonly grown in Mississippi are: Carlos, which has high yields of bronze-skinned, medium sized fruit, and is excellent for juice, jelly, and wine. Noble has purple, and is excellent for juice, wine, and jelly. And Doreen has medium sized bronze-skinned fruit that is excellent for juice, wine, and jelly. Muscadines are great for the homeowner and are not difficult to grow. Whether for table, juice, or even wine, muscadines are a delicious addition to your landscape. I'm Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.