Muscadine Grapes
If you’re interested in growing grapes in Florida, then look no further than the native muscadine.
If you enjoy the sweet, juicy nature of grapes and want to have access to these fruits in your backyard, then the muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia) is a noteworthy candidate. Native to the southeastern United States, muscadine grapes are grown in home gardens and commercial vineyards and can be enjoyed straight off the vine or in jellies, juices, and wines. Their nutrient-dense skin and relative resistance to pests and diseases make muscadine grapes healthy, low-maintenance fruit suitable for Florida gardens.
Characteristics
Muscadine was the first native grape species to be cultivated in North America. Sometimes called scuppernongs, muscadine grapes can be found growing in the wild, with a range extending from Delaware to Central Florida, and present in all states along the Gulf Coast to eastern Texas. There are over 100 cultivars of muscadine grape that come in many colors from light bronze to pink to purple to black. They range in size, from ¼ inch in diameter to as large as 1 ½ inches. The interior of all muscadine grapes have clear, translucent flesh with crunchy seeds surrounded by thick skins. The skins are noted for their polyphenols (a class of compounds found in many plant foods) which have antioxidant properties.
Varieties
Wild muscadine vines can be either male or female and must grow near each other in order for pollination to occur and grapes to form. If you don’t have the room for multiple vines, opt for a self-fertile variety, i.e. those that are said to have “perfect” flowers.
Many varieties of muscadines are commercially available, and several of the most popular self-fertile cultivars in Florida are ‘Carlos’, ‘Polyanna’, ‘Florida Fry’, and ‘Southern Home’ (the latter is actually a hybrid of bunch and muscadine grapes developed in Florida).
Recommended by UF/IFAS Extension agents, these cultivars are known for their disease resistance, productivity, and flavor:
- Cultivars for eating fresh: ‘Black Beauty’, ‘Fry’, ‘Southern Home’, ‘Summit’, and ‘Triumph’, which are chosen for their sugar content, acidity, berry size, crunchiness, and low seed count.
- Cultivars for wine, jellies, and juices: ‘Alachua’, ‘Carlos’, ‘Noble’, and ‘Welder’, which are chosen for their high yield, sugar content, and acidity.
Planting
Muscadine grape can be successfully grown in all parts of Florida, although it does not tolerate soils with high levels of calcium or poor drainage. Plants will do best and fruit most heavily if planted in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Avoid planting in low-lying areas, which can be more prone to frost and waterlogging.
Bare-root vines, which are sold without soil around their roots, should be planted December through February, while container-grown vines can be planted throughout the year (with sufficient irrigation). Space plants at least 10 (if not 20) feet apart and leave 4 to 10 feet between rows.
Proper trellising helps contribute to good fruit production, so choose a trellising system that will work in your space. While growing grapes over an arch or pergola can look nice, these structures can make it harder for you to maintain the vines and fruit production may decline. You want to be sure you have easy access to the cordons (arms) of each vine so that you can prune them each year. Planting multiple cultivars allows you to enjoy a variety of flavors, sizes, and colors with various ripening periods, lengthening the harvesting period.
Maintenance
Pests and Disease
Muscadine grapes have few insect and disease problems, generally requiring little to no pesticides or insecticides. Pests that occasionally affect muscadines are aphids, Chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis), and the grape root borer (Vitacea polistiformis). Plant your muscadines away from woodlands to avoid foraging by deer, opossums, racoons, crows, and more.
This grape stands out above others for its natural resistance to Pierce’s disease, which plagues the common grape (Vitis vinerfera) via a bacterial pathogen. To minimize other grape diseases, you can implement cultural practices such as using disease-resistant cultivars and drip irrigation, keeping the ground clear of leaf debris, picking the grapes when ripe, and removing dead wood and “mummified” fruit. The most common diseases for muscadine grape are angular leaf spot, black rot, ripe rot, macrophoma rot, and powdery mildew.
Pruning
Pruning your muscadine plants keeps the vine growth manageable and improves harvest. The best time to prune is mid-January to mid-March during the dormant season. Touch-up pruning can also be used during the growing season as needed. For detailed information on muscadine grape pruning read the Ask IFAS publication, The Muscadine Grape.
Harvesting
There are typically at least two harvest windows, which can be in July for some or extend to late September for others, depending on the cultivar. You can harvest by selecting individual grapes or bunches of grapes by hand or by shaking fruits loose from the vine onto a tarp. Refrigerate harvested grapes to keep them fresh.
If you are considering growing muscadines and want to try different cultivars, the grapes can often be bought directly from growers. Many offer a U-pick operation, where consumers can pick their own grapes directly off the vine. Muscadines are also sold at farmers markets and even at roadside stalls.
UF/IFAS Research
Exciting research is taking place at the University of Florida, with many muscadine and hybrid grape varieties developed for the Florida market. Further research is looking into lenticel formation, or pores seen as small spots on the exterior of the grapes, which are linked to pathogen susceptibility and microcracking of the grape skin. Researchers are also studying cultivars resistant to Pierce’s disease and exploring the benefits of integrated pest management. Innovative research topics include the potential of canned muscadine wine and the ability of the grape properties to kill cancer cells. They’re even experimenting with freeze-dried muscadine grapes in the lab. The beneficial health properties available in the grapes are maintained during the freeze-drying process and their crisp, melt-in-your-mouth appeal makes them a tasty option in the future.
In Your Backyard
Whether you want to taste muscadine grapes for the first time or explore the idea of planting them, there is no denying the allure of these crisp, juicy, fruits. As a native to Florida, muscadine grapes offer a well-adapted, sustainable option for your backyard.
For tips on setting up and maintaining your own vineyard, read the UF/IFAS publication The Muscadine Grape or contact your local Extension office.