Muscadine Grapes

Muscadine grapes are full of sugar and sweeter than any grape you have eaten. Instead of growing in bunches, they grow in many small clusters. They have firm skin and tender flesh. Buy one male plant for each two female plants, in order to have proper pollination.

Care of Muscadine Grape Vines

Planting:  Plant bare-root plants as soon as possible after you purchase them. Select a dappled-sun to sunny well-drained location. Each plant is planted at the base of one of the poles holding up the trellis, with each pole about 8’ to 9’ apart. As the vine grows, train it up the pole. When it reaches about 3’, help side branches go out horizontally in both directions, tying them if necessary. Let one branch continue to grow vertically, and when it gets to 5’, train two more branches horizontally in each direction.

Pruning: Once the plant is trained on both horizontal branches of the trellis, and it is winter, you can prune. Prune the horizontal branches to about 6’ each. Then prune the side branching off the horizontal branches. There will be clusters of short branches which need to be pruned to leave only 2 or 3 buds on each side branch. This is done every winter.

Harvesting: Fruit is ready to harvest when it changes color and becomes soft.

Varieties of Muscadine Grapes for the Houston Area Climate

Ison Muscadine Black self-fertile. 19% sugar, very productive, ripens uniformly, large clusters, early-mid season. Best black pollinator.

Supreme Muscadine Black female. Best of the black scuppernongs. Many people have changed their minds choosing Supreme over bronze grape. It is the largest muscadine developed at this time. Very heavy producer. 23% sugar. Ripens mid-late season, very vigorous, edible skin, large clusters, disease resistant.

Black Beauty Large fruit, 1-1/4 inch in diameter, skin black. Quality very good. Sugar content 24.5%. Ripens mid to late-season. Vine very vigorous. Clusters large. One of the best black muscadines ever developed.

Darlene Large fruit, 1-1/4 inch in diameter, skin bronze. Consistently large size throughout vine. Excellent, melting quality. Sugar content 24%.

Fry Very large fruit, up to 1-3/8 inch in diameter, skin bronze. Quality very good before fully ripe. Sugar content 21%. Ripens midseason. Vine moderately vigorous. Production good. Clusters very large.