North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

NC State University

Muscadine GrapeProduction Guide

FFFFFor North Carolinaor North Carolinaor North Carolinaor North Carolinaor North Carolina

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Recommendations for the use of agricultural chemicals are included in this

publication as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any

mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not

imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service or

discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals

who use agricultural chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use

complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to

obtain current information about usage regulations and examine a current

product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact your county

Cooperative Extension agent.

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ContentsIntroduction .................................................................................... 5

Production Costs and Returns for Processing ...................................... 6

Site Selection .................................................................................. 6

Varieties ......................................................................................... 7

Propagation.................................................................................... 7

Commercial Nurseries ..................................................................... 8

Trellising ......................................................................................... 8

Trellis Arrangements ........................................................................ 9

Planting the Vineyard..................................................................... 10

Irrigation ...................................................................................... 12

Weed Control ............................................................................... 12

Post-Plant Fertility and Liming ......................................................... 12

Insect and Disease Pests ................................................................ 13

Establishment ........................................................................... 13

Mature Vines ........................................................................... 14

Training ........................................................................................ 16

Harvesting .................................................................................... 18

Conclusion ................................................................................... 19

References .................................................................................... 19

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5

Introduction

This muscadine grape productionguide will help the increasingnumber of North Carolina farmerswho are considering growing andmarketing this fruit as a farmdiversification option. Importantchanges have occurred in theNorth Carolina muscadine indus-try since this bulletin last appearedin 1987, most notably the wineindustry’s recent turnaround.North Carolina muscadine winesare becoming more widely appre-ciated for their distinctive fruitybouquet and are gaining consider-able regional interest due, in part,to potential positive health effectsafforded by moderate, responsibleconsumption. The state’s commer-cial muscadine acreage rose toapproximately 400 acres in 2002from 265 acres in 1996. Prices forprocessed muscadine grapes forwine have been rising, and in 2002reached in the range of $500 perton. This price is up sharply fromthose paid by wineries in the1990s. Prices paid for Noble, NorthCarolina’s second most importantmuscadine winegrape variety, wereas high as $750 per ton in 2002.

Adaptation. Muscadine grapes(Vitis rotundifolia Michx.), indig-enous to the southeastern UnitedStates, are well adapted to a hot,

humid climate. They do nottolerate temperatures below 10o F(Figure 1). For this reason, they arenot recommended for commercialproduction in the mountains,foothills, and areas of the upperpiedmont where there is a highprobability of winter temperaturesbelow 10o F. Even in traditionalmuscadine production areas, coldinjury may occur if less cold-hardyvarieties are grown. The varietyIson, for example, is a variety bredin Georgia that was severelyinjured by a late spring freeze in2001. Noble, a North Carolina-bredvariety, escaped with little or nocold injury. Varieties with goodcold hardiness may be prone tospring frost/freeze injury if theytend to break bud early in thespring. Unfortunately, NorthCarolina’s main bronze muscadine

variety, Carlos, is prone to earlybud-break in some years.

Muscadine products, markets,and challenges. Consumers’interest in healthier diets andchanging lifestyles have led to anincrease in eating fresh fruit,including muscadine grapes.Direct marketing of fresh musca-dines is quite popular in NorthCarolina (pick-your-own, roadsidestands, and farmers’ markets).Commercial growers who producemuscadines primarily for process-ing into wine often also havelimited plantings of specialtyvarieties for direct marketing, suchas Nesbitt, Triumph, Summit, andSupreme. Increasing supplies ofGeorgia’s larger-fruited musca-dines have depressed wholesalemarket prices for fresh, smaller-fruited varieties like Carlos, which

Muscadine GrapeProduction Guide

FFFFFor North Carolinaor North Carolinaor North Carolinaor North Carolinaor North Carolina

Figure1. Muscadine grape production area in North Carolina.

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TTTTTable 1. Cost Pable 1. Cost Pable 1. Cost Pable 1. Cost Pable 1. Cost Per Acre for Materialser Acre for Materialser Acre for Materialser Acre for Materialser Acre for Materials

Number NeededNumber NeededNumber NeededNumber NeededNumber Needed CostCostCostCostCost Cost Cost Cost Cost CostMaterials NeededMaterials NeededMaterials NeededMaterials NeededMaterials Needed (P(P(P(P(Per Aer Aer Aer Aer Acre)cre)cre)cre)cre) ($ P($ P($ P($ P($ Per Item)er Item)er Item)er Item)er Item) ($ P ($ P ($ P ($ P ($ Per Aer Aer Aer Aer Acre)cre)cre)cre)cre)

Treated 4” x 8” Posts 218 posts 4.14 902.52Treated 6” x 8’ Posts 84* posts 7.80 655.20Treated 4” x 4” x 8’ Timbers 42** timbers 10.67 448.14Wire, 100-pound rolls

of #9 galvanized 3 rolls*** 60.00 180.00Grape Vines 218 vines 2.00 436.00Total Cost Per Acre 2,621.86

* 4 bracing posts per row multiplied by (209 feet per acre divided by 10 feetbetween rows) equal 21 rows per acre, which is 84 bracing posts per acre

** 2 timbers multiplied by 21 rows equal 42 timbers per acre*** 1,705 feet in length

is North Carolina’s most widelyplanted bronze muscadine (grownmainly for processing). Bettervarieties for the fresh wholesalemarkets include larger-fruitedmuscadines, such as the blackgrape Nesbitt, or bronze types,such as Summit and possiblyTriumph. A number of the larger-fruited muscadine varietiesdeveloped in Georgia, such asSupreme, are not appropriate inNorth Carolina because of theirsensitivity to winter cold injury.

The juice yield (for use in wine)from a ton of muscadine grapes isonly 135 to 140 gallons. Bunchgrapes yield 165 gallons or moreper ton. The North Carolinamuscadine industry is supportingresearch on uses of the portion ofthe crop that is not used forwinemaking or juice, called“pomace” (skin, seeds, and pulp).Potential uses include muscadinesyrups, purees, and a variety ofvalue-added “niche” products.Research in Arkansas is alsoproving that competitive productscan be made by blending musca-dine juice with neutral and lessexpensive grape and other juiceswhile still maintaining the uniquefruity flavors of the muscadine.

Yields and vineyard life. Musca-dines are generally very productive.Yields average 1 ton per acre in thesecond year, 3 tons per acre in thethird year, and 8 tons per acre by thefourth and in subsequent years. It isnot unusual for a muscadineplanting to produce for more than30 years with good pruning, spray-ing, and a well-constructed trellis.

Production Costs andProduction Costs andProduction Costs andProduction Costs andProduction Costs andRRRRReturns for Processingeturns for Processingeturns for Processingeturns for Processingeturns for Processing

It costs approximately $2,620 formaterials to establish an acre ofmuscadine grapes in North Carolina(see Table 1), excluding labor, equip-

ment, land costs, and irrigationequipment. Computations are basedon a spacing of 10 feet betweenrows, 20 feet between vines, and asingle wire trellising system. Atthis spacing there are 218 vines peracre. This number is arrived at byfirst multiplying 10 feet betweenrows by 20 feet between vines (in-the-row) and then dividing 43,560square feet per acre by the product.The configuration of this hypo-thetical acre is a square (approxi-mately 209 by 209 feet).

When labor, equipment, andland costs are taken into account,the total establishment costs mayeasily be more than $5,200 peracre. A drip irrigation system addsanother $1,200 per acre. In maturevineyards, annual operating costsare approximately $1,700 per acre.The cost for custom mechanicalharvesting is about $90 per ton.Thus, an 8-ton per acre crop wouldcost about $720 per acre to harvest.

Figuring average quality grapesand a winery price of $450 per ton,an 8 ton per acre crop couldgenerate $3,600 in gross revenueper acre. With annual operatingcosts of $1,700 per acre (mainly forpruning and spraying) and acustom harvest cost of $720 peracre (8 tons multiplied by $90), thecrop might provide a return of

about $1,180 per acre for an 8-tonper acre crop (before vineyardcosts are subtracted). A wineryprice of $500 per ton wouldprovide a return of $1,580 per acre.

If the yield is 5 tons per acre,which is closer to the state average,a muscadine vineyard will barelybreak even at $450 per ton:

Gross revenue – (Operatingcosts + Custom harvest costs) =Net return to grower

Or, in this example: $2,250 –($1,700 + $450 harvest) = $100/acre

Site SelectionSite SelectionSite SelectionSite SelectionSite Selection

The most critical consideration inchoosing a planting site for musca-dines is internal soil drainage.Although wild muscadines surviveon a wide variety of soils, commer-cial producers must select a well-drained soil. Water should notstand on the site after a normalrain, and the subsoil should notrestrict drainage. Ideally thereshould be no gray mottling in thesubsoil above a depth of 48 inches.Generally speaking, if tobacco hasdone well on the site, muscadinegrapes should also do well. In thepiedmont, plant on a site elevatedabove the surrounding area and atleast 50 feet away from woods orother obstructions. Unobstructed

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locations allow air to drain awayfrom the vineyard on cold nights.Preferred row orientation is northto south; however, topography ofthe vineyard site may dictate adifferent row orientation.

VVVVVarietiesarietiesarietiesarietiesarieties

Of the numerous muscadine grapevarieties, only a few account formost of the commercial productionacreage. The leading variety, Carlos,represents most of the acres ofmuscadine grapes in North Caro-lina. Carlos has excellent produc-tion potential and is a dual-usevariety; it is the standard process-ing variety in the state and it is alsoacceptable for fresh local market-ing, but it is not recommended forwholesale markets because of itssmall berry size. The second mostimportant winegrape is Noble.Noble is outstanding for its highyields, but it is strictly a processinggrape due to its small berry size.

The fresh market demandslarger fruit size, and Nesbitt isquickly becoming the most impor-tant new black muscadine varietyfor both direct marketing (U-pick,ready-pick, satellite stands, farmmarkets) and fresh wholesalemarketing to chain stores.

Carlos, Magnolia, and Sterlingare three of the most consistentlycold-hardy varieties. Noble andNesbitt are also more cold hardythan varieties bred in Georgia.Although the new Georgia blackgrape Supreme has exceptionalsize and very good eating quality,

it is not likely to adapted well toareas outside the coastal plain.

The above list of muscadinevarieties is not exhaustive. If wineis not the primary use, othervarieties, such as Supreme, BlackFry, Summit, Scarlett, Fry, EarlyFry, Pam, and Late Fry, may beused in the coastal plain. Growersshould plant limited numbers ofthese cultivars and evaluate themfor specific markets.

Muscadine cultivars may beeither female or perfect-flowered.If a female cultivar is used, aperfect-flowered variety must alsobe planted in order to assureproper pollination.

Some home gardeners growmuscadines in areas that aremarginal due to cold wintertemperatures. Five of the mostconsistently cold-hardy cultivarsare Carlos, Magnolia, Nesbitt,Noble, and Sterling.

At this stage, there are still nocommercially acceptable seedlessmuscadines for fresh market sales.

PropagationPropagationPropagationPropagationPropagation

Layering

Muscadine grapes can be propa-gated by layering vines in late Juneor July. To obtain new plants bylayering, simply cover a portion ofa new shoot with soil, leaving thegrowing end exposed. Roots willform where the branch is covered.The following winter or spring, cutthe rooted portion from the oldvine and transplant. To propagatea large number of plants by layer-ing, take the entire fruiting arm, laythe arm in a shallow trench, andcover it with 4 to 5 inches in soil,leaving the tips of the shoots aboveground. Each shoot will root andform a new plant.

Softwood Cuttings

It is easier and quicker to propa-gate large quantities of plants withsoftwood cuttings taken duringand immediately after bloom inJune. Using the current season’sshoots, cut off and discard thetender tip, and make the cuttingfrom the rest of the shoot. Leave

TTTTTable 3. Characteristics of Muscadine Cultivarsable 3. Characteristics of Muscadine Cultivarsable 3. Characteristics of Muscadine Cultivarsable 3. Characteristics of Muscadine Cultivarsable 3. Characteristics of Muscadine Cultivars

CultivarCultivarCultivarCultivarCultivar TTTTTypeypeypeypeype FFFFFruit Colorruit Colorruit Colorruit Colorruit Color FFFFFruit Sizeruit Sizeruit Sizeruit Sizeruit Size RipeningRipeningRipeningRipeningRipening

Black Fry Female Black Large Mid-lateCarlos Self-fertile Bronze Medium MidCowart Self-fertile Black Medium MidDoreen Self-fertile Bronze Medium LateEarly Fry Female Bronze Large Very EarlyFry Self-fertile Bronze Very Large Very LateNesbitt Self-fertile Black Large Mid-lateNoble Self-fertile Black Medium MidScarlett Female Red Large MidSterling Self-fertile Bronze Medium MidSummit Female Pinkish Large MidSupreme Female Black Very Large Mid-lateTriumph Self-fertile Bronze Medium Large Early

TTTTTable 2. Fable 2. Fable 2. Fable 2. Fable 2. Frequently Recommended Muscadine Cultivars for North Carolinarequently Recommended Muscadine Cultivars for North Carolinarequently Recommended Muscadine Cultivars for North Carolinarequently Recommended Muscadine Cultivars for North Carolinarequently Recommended Muscadine Cultivars for North Carolina

UseUseUseUseUse Black CultivarsBlack CultivarsBlack CultivarsBlack CultivarsBlack Cultivars Bronze CultivarsBronze CultivarsBronze CultivarsBronze CultivarsBronze Cultivars

Wine Noble Carlos, MagnoliaFresh Market, Pick-Your-Own Nesbitt Carlos, Doreen, Triumph,

SummitHome Garden Noble, Nesbitt Carlos, Triumph

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four nodes on each 4- to 6-inchcutting, and remove the bottomtwo leaves. Keep the cuttingsmoist to avoid wilting and spacethem out on a 3-by-4-inch spacingin a propagation bed containing amixture of 1 part coarse sand and 1part peat. Use shade cloth or lathto block out about 50 percent of thedirect sunlight. Maintain humidityclose to 100 percent by using mistnozzles that deliver about 2gallons per hour at 30 to 50 poundspressure. No misting is needed atnight or on very humid days.

When the cuttings have rooted(after 4 to 6 weeks), remove theshade. Gradually reduce misting,and fertilize once a week untilmid-September with a solution of1 tablespoon of 20-20-20 solublefertilizer per gallon of water. Use1 gallon per 25 square feet of plantbed. Allow the plants to harden bywatering only when needed.

Before freezing weather occurs,remove the rooted cuttings fromthe bed. Gently shake the rootingmixture from the roots, andremove any leaves that are on theplants. Store the rooted cuttings at38° to 40° F in sealed plastic or in aprotected cold frame until lateMarch or early April, then plantthem in the field in their perma-nent location. Small plants withpoor root systems should begrown in a nursery row a yearbefore planting them in thevineyard.

Commercial NurseriesCommercial NurseriesCommercial NurseriesCommercial NurseriesCommercial Nurseries

The names and addresses ofmuscadine grape nurseries can befound on the Web at http://www.smallfruits.org/nurserycommdatabase.xls.

TTTTTrellisingrellisingrellisingrellisingrellising

New information. In the past, theGeneva Double Curtain (GDC)

system has been the predominanttrellising system in North Carolina.Observation and research haveshown that muscadine yield is 20to 25 percent higher with a GDCsystem than with a single wiresystem, but the single wire systemhas several advantages:

• Installation costs are less sincecrossarms are unnecessary.

• Pruning takes less time and iseasier.

• Blueberry mechanical harvestersmay be used to harvest grapes.

• Row spacing may be decreased.

The GDC system requires 12- by20-foot spacing. As long as thegrower’s equipment will negotiatethe width, the single wire systemcan be reduced to 10- by 20-footspacing. This increases the totalnumber of vines per acre. Table 4shows how row spacing effects thenumber of vines per acre.

TTTTTable 4. Number of Vines Pable 4. Number of Vines Pable 4. Number of Vines Pable 4. Number of Vines Pable 4. Number of Vines Per Acreer Acreer Acreer Acreer Acreat Vat Vat Vat Vat Various Spacingsarious Spacingsarious Spacingsarious Spacingsarious Spacings

DistanceDistanceDistanceDistanceDistance DistanceDistanceDistanceDistanceDistance Number ofNumber ofNumber ofNumber ofNumber ofBetweenBetweenBetweenBetweenBetween BetweenBetweenBetweenBetweenBetween VVVVVinesinesinesinesinesRRRRRows (feet)ows (feet)ows (feet)ows (feet)ows (feet) VVVVVines (feet)ines (feet)ines (feet)ines (feet)ines (feet) PPPPPer Aer Aer Aer Aer Acrecrecrecrecre

10 20 21811 20 20712 20 18113 20 167

Posts

Posts should be long-lasting. Woodposts should be treated with apreservative for in-ground use andshould last up to 20 years. “Preser-vative” means any chemical usedin treating wood to retard orprevent deterioration or destruc-tion caused by insects, fungi,bacteria, or other wood-destroyingorganisms. Most wood preserva-tives are highly toxic.

The wood preservative CCA(chromated copper arsenate) hasbeen widely used in the past for

treatment of vineyard posts, butOn February 12, 2002, EPA an-nounced a voluntary decision byindustry to move away fromconsumer use of CCA treatedlumber by December 31, 2003, infavor of new alternative woodpreservatives. A number of preser-vatives have been registered byEPA, and wood treated with thesepreservatives are expected to beavailable in the marketplace. Inaddition, untreated wood (e.g.,cedar and locust) and nonwoodalternatives, such as metal postsare available. Posts of durablenatural woods may be less expen-sive, but are usually harder toobtain and cost more then treatedpine posts. Be sure the amount ofheartwood in each post is suffi-cient to support the trellis. Sap-wood rots quickly and does notoffer durable support.

Take the following precautionswhen using chemically treated posts:

• Make sure the wood is treatedadequately with a proven material.

• Do not allow vines to makedirect contact with freshlytreated wood.

• Plant vines at least 1 foot awayfrom posts treated with apreservative (CCA, creosote, orpentachlorophenol).

Recently, the bunch grapeindustry has been turning to steelposts, which offer the followingadvantages:

• Easier to install than wood posts.• Easier to use than wood posts.• Ready to use once they are

driven into the ground; juststring your wires.

• Wire slots provide more built-inoptions for placement of wires,making them more versatile thanwood posts.

• Better for grounding lighteningstrikes than wood posts.

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• Wire clips, staples, etc., are notneeded.

• More fruit harvested with lessbeater power of a harvester andless damage to costly vines,making harvesting more effi-cient.

• Quality is more consistent thanwood posts.

TTTTTrellis Arrangementsrellis Arrangementsrellis Arrangementsrellis Arrangementsrellis Arrangements

Vertical One-Wire Trellis

Bracing and supporting posts(interior) should be at least 8 feetin length. Posts no smaller than5 to 6 inches in diameter should beused for bracing and with posts noless than 3 to 4 inches in diameterused for interior positions. Twoand one-half feet of the line postis placed below ground level,establishing the wire and vineheight at 5 1/2 feet. Use tractor-powered posthole augers and postdrivers to install posts. Set lineposts 20 feet apart in the row.Brace end posts according toFigure 2 using Number 9 galva-nized wire. A rachet strainer at theend of each row may be used tohelp establish and maintain wiretension. There are several methodsfor bracing end posts, and newgrowers should visit severalestablished vineyards beforemaking a final decision on bracingprocedure. Most bracing tech-niques set the end posts deeperthan interior posts with braces at a15- to 30-degree angle to theground. Research has indicated aslight yield advantage in orientingvineyard rows in a north-southdirection, but other factors, suchas slope and ability to moveequipment, may be overridingfactors. A vertical one-wire trelliswith 10-by-20-foot vine spacingcosts about $2,600 per acre formaterials (see section on Produc-tion Costs and Returns).

Geneva Double Curtain Trellis

Line posts 8 feet long are placed2 ½ feet in the ground and 20 feetapart (Figure 3). The end bracepost is 8 ½ feet long, at least

5 inches in diameter, and placed4 feet in the ground at a slightlyoutward angle. A 6 ½-foot post isused as an inside brace post. Placeit 6 feet from the outside brace post

Figure 2. The Vertical One-Wire Trellis for Muscadine Grapes.

Post

#9 WireTwisted

#9 Wire

6’ 20’

5’

2’

5’

2 1/2’

Figure 3. Construction details of the Geneva Double Curtain.

#11 Wire

2 x 4” orEquivalent

Bolt

3/8

x 8”

Galvini

zed

Bolt

3/16” Bolt5 1/2 ‘

4’

4 x 4” orEquivalent

5” Min.Dia.

#9 WireTwisted

4 1/2’

4’

6’

4’14’

20’

2 1/2’

2 1/2’

4 1/2’

29”

#9 Wire2 x 4 x 45Spreader

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and position a 4 x 4 or equivalentpiece of lumber between the top ofthe two posts as a brace. Run adouble Number 9-gauge wire fromthe top of the inside brace post tothe bottom of the outside bracepost, and twist to tighten the entirebrace system.

Metal cross arms (supports),commercially fabricated fromgalvanized steel, are generallyused with new plantings. Thesearms are very durable and easy toinstall on the posts. Wire tosupport the plantings can bequickly attached to the cross armwith a hairpin-type clip.

Wooden cross arms also can beused. These cross arms are madefrom Number 2 grade 2-by-4’s orthe equivalent. The supports are29 inches long and predrilled2 inches from the end to accommo-date 3/8-by-8-inch galvanizedbolts. An additional hole is pre-drilled from the other end of thesupport parallel to the ground toallow the Number 11-gauge bracewire to pass through. After passingthe loop end of the doubled wirethrough the support, place a¾ inch washer over the loop andattach a chain repair link to theloop (Figure 4). The brace wires are

now fastened around the top of thepost so that supports form a “Y”.Both should have angles approxi-mately 35 degrees with the groundand measure 4 feet from tip to tip.Space between rows (post to post)should be no less than 10 feet.

Use Number 9-gauge wire forthe main wires. Both main wiresare fastened to the top of theoutside brace post, threadedthrough a 45-inch spreader, andthen run down either side of thetrellis through chain repair links.The opposite end of the trellis isbraced in the same way, and thetwo wires are tightened around thetop of the outside brace post.

Planting the VineyardPlanting the VineyardPlanting the VineyardPlanting the VineyardPlanting the Vineyard

Key Factors to Consider BeforePlanting

Land preparation should begin theyear before planting. Plan on anearly spring planting after dangerof hard freeze is past, usually mid-March to mid-April. After select-ing the best site, test the soil andtill in any needed lime and fertil-izer, deal with internal waterdrainage problems, eliminateperennial weeds, and establish thetrellis.

Here are 8 key factors to con-sider in selecting a vineyard siteand in preparing it for planting:

1. Field shape. Choose a rowdirection that maximizes rowlength for important equip-ment-efficiency gains andreduced end-structure invest-ment and maintenance costs.

2. Row spacing and equipment. Donot crowd your vineyard,especially if land is availableand relatively inexpensive. Rowwidth on slopes and especiallyon contours must be wider thanon level land. On both verticalone-wire and the GDC trellis,space both plants and posts 20feet apart in the row. Spaceneeded by harvesters, tractors,mowers, and other equipment isthe major factor determiningrow width. The most popularrow width spacing for thevertical one-wire trellis is 10feet. A row width of 12 feet isrecommended for the Genevadouble curtain.

3. Row orientation. The slope of theland and the shape of the fieldare the major determinants ofrow direction. If the land hasmore than a 2 percent slope, itmay be advisable to align rowsat right angles to the slope(cross-slope planting) to mini-mize soil erosion. North-southrow orientation results in aslightly more productivevineyard than east-west roworientation when standardvertical one-wire training isused. However, there was verylittle difference with Genevadouble curtain-trained vines.

4. Soil pH and fertility. The firststep in good vineyard fertilitymanagement is a soil test.Collect soil samples about 8 to10 inches deep no later than thefall before planting. For addi-

Figure 4. The support system for the GDC.

#11 Wire

2” x 4” TreatedSupport orEquivalent

69” Wire to GroundApprox. 35o

Post

54” to Ground

12”

2”3/8 x 8

’ Galvin

ized Bolt

Chain Repair Link

Flat Washer3/8” Hole24”

11

tional information, contact yourcounty Cooperative Extensionagent. Lime is usually necessaryto raise the pH to 6.5. Afterproblem weeds have beenremoved from the site (seebelow) and the land has beenadequately tilled, apply limeaccording to soil test recommen-dations. Dolomitic lime ispreferred because it containsmagnesium, which oftenbecomes deficient in muscadineplants. Incorporate the lime andany recommended phosphatealso based on the soil testrecommendations 6 monthsbefore planting, and plow itthoroughly to a depth of8 to 10 inches.

5. Weeds. Perennial weeds andgrasses, such as bermudagrass,johnsongrass, honeysuckle, andbrambles, are relatively easy tokill before the vineyard isplanted. Control becomes muchmore difficult after planting. Forrecommendations on weedcontrol in muscadines see theNorth Carolina AgriculturalChemicals Manual, which is alsoavailable on the Web at http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem.html.

6. Fescue sod middles to controlerosion in the piedmont. If the rowmiddles are to be planted to afescue sod cover in the pied-

mont, seed in the late summeror early fall of the year beforeplanting. Keep clean stripswhere the vineyard row islocated.

7. Bedding up rows in coastal plain.Bed up so that they are 4 to 6inches higher than the sodmiddles in coastal plain grow-ing areas.

8. Construct trellises by early March.Prepare the soil as thoroughlyas for planting corn or tobacco,then lay off the rows and set theposts before planting. Thisoperation should be completedby early March of the plantingyear (Figure 5).

Plants and Planting

Plants. Rooted cuttings survive aswell as or better than layeredplants. One-year-old, properlygrown plants are as good as andusually better than older plants.

Planting. If plants arrive fromthe nursery prior to suitableplanting weather, moisten (but donot wet) the roots, seal the plantsin plastic bags, and store them in arefrigerated area (38 to 40° F). Ifthis is not possible, heel them inalong the north side of a building,and protect them well with acovering of at least a foot of loosestraw or similar material. To avoidfreeze damage to tender growth,

postpone planting until there islittle chance of a hard freeze.However, the longer planting isdelayed the more likely plants willsuffer from high temperatures anddrought. In North Carolina the idealplanting window for dormant plantsoccurs between April 7 and May 7. Inmost years, it is better to plantearly rather than late. Fall plantingis possible but increased winterinjury may occur.

Planting holes and alignment.The planting holes can be dug byhand or tractor auger and shouldbe several times larger than theroot ball of the grapevine. Plant thevines 1 to 2 inches deeper thanthey were growing in the nursery.During planting, vine roots shouldbe temporarily submerged in a pailof water or wrapped in wet burlap.After planting, water the vines.Pack the soil firmly after the hole isfilled and irrigate or hand waterthe soil surface immediately. Vinesshould be planted 12 to18 inchesfrom the posts. Setting vinesagainst the posts may result inplant injury from the toxic woodpreservatives. Planting on thenorth side of posts may help tominimize winter injury. Afterplanting, the young vines arevulnerable to freeze and droughtdamage. Never place fertilizerdirectly in the planting hole. Besure to set vines directly under thetrellis; vines out of line are morelikely to be injured by cultivation,mowing, and harvesting.

Grow tubes. Grow tubes, plasticcylinders 24 to 36 inches tall and3 to 4 inches in diameter, allowearlier spring planting and in-crease the rate of growth. At theCastle Hayne Research Station,first-year plant growth in the36-inch tubes was nearly twice asmuch as those grown withouttubes. These tubes also allowedwide-spectrum systemic herbicidesFigure 5. Bracing and interior posts should be set before vineyard is planted.

12

to be applied close to young plantswith little possibility of injury. Youmust, however, weigh the addedcosts of these tubes against thebenefits. Several companies carrythem, and they range in quality,size, and price. In the Castle Haynestudy, 36-inch tubes produced thegreatest total growth per season.Remove grow tubes before earlywinter to avoid any cold damage.The tubes are reusable.

IrrigationIrrigationIrrigationIrrigationIrrigation

Irrigation has only been recom-mended recently only in the deepSouth (e.g. Mississippi) and is notcommon in North Carolina.Irrigation on wine muscadines isnormally not necessary after thefirst three years. Since grapes areusually nonbearing during theseyears, overhead irrigation isacceptable and preferable. Ifoverhead irrigation is not avail-able, then hand watering of newlyplanted vines can be accomplishedwith a water trailer, but this is atime-consuming method. Dripirrigation, moving guns, and soakhoses have also been used. What-ever type of irrigation is used,avoid overwatering the vines.Water thoroughly and allow thesoil to dry out before irrigatingagain. During periods in whichlittle or no rainfall occurs, 1 inch ofwater per week is usually ad-equate. For many years NorthCarolina growers were able togrow grow muscadines success-fully without any irrigation.However, during the past decadedroughts have been commonduring the growing season. Ifgrowers have a clean water sourceand are willing to invest thecapital, a drip irrigation systemmakes the most efficient use ofwater.

Drip irrigation is the mostefficient method, but it requires asand filter for water from pondsand lakes. Water from most wellscan be filtered inexpensivelyunless it has high iron content. It ishighly recommended that you askan authorized irrigation dealer inyour area to evaluate your vine-yard site and to properly designthe drip irrigation system.

Overhead irrigation can be usedin a drought, especially for thenon-bearing years, but it has thefollowing disadvantages:

1) high initial investment,2) wetting of foliage, which can

increase disease,3) inefficient use of water, and4) reduction of fruit set if used

during the pollinating period.

WWWWWeed Controleed Controleed Controleed Controleed Control

During the first three years of anew vineyard, weed managementis extremely important. As statedin the planting section, eliminationof weeds should be part of sitepreparation. Here is where anounce of prevention is worth apound of cure. Prevention isespecially critical with perennialweeds, such as bermudagrass andjohnsongrass. Proper tillingtechniques and systemic herbicidescan minimize or eradicate manyproblem weeds before planting.When the vines begin growing,control of these weeds is muchmore problematic. Before weedseeds germinate, treat the soil witha preemergence herbicide. Tomaintain control throughout thegrowing season, at least twoapplications of these herbicides arerequired. The second spray shouldalso be made before weedsemerge. Any emerged weedsshould be hoed or sprayed with asystemic or contact herbicide

before the soil is treated with thepreemergence. If applications ofpreemergence herbicides are notfollowed within a few days byirrigation or substantial rainfall,their activity is often greatlyreduced.

Once the grapes begin to grow,take great care to prevent anycontact with systemic or contactherbicides. Any contact of theseherbicides with green leaves orstems may injure the plant. If usedproperly, grow tubes and home-made or commercial shields forsprayers or vines can sufficientlyprotect vines from herbicidecontact. Avoid spraying herbicideson windy days. Consult yourNorth Carolina Agricultural Chemi-cals Manual or local Extensionagent for a list of herbicideslabeled for grapes.

In recent years some growershave experimented with mulchesin young muscadines to controlweeds and reduce drought stress.It is probably best to use a durablemulch, such as chipped hardwood.

PPPPPostostostostost-Plant Fertility-Plant Fertility-Plant Fertility-Plant Fertility-Plant Fertilityand Limingand Limingand Limingand Limingand Liming

Generally apply 1/4 pound of10-10-10 in a 18-inch circle aroundeach vine beginning 2 weeks afterplanting, and repeat every 6 weeksup through the first week in July.During the second year, double theapplication rate to 1/2 pound pervine applied at the same timeintervals. In the third year use arate of 1/2 pound per vine at thesame intervals. It is sometimesdesirable to adjust fertilizer ratesto compensate for the effects ofrain or drought. Overfertilizingduring an extreme drought maydamage vines. Never fertilize afterthe first week in July since thismay lead to winter damage and

13

possibly crown gall. Apply anymulch or compost during theprevious fall, winter, or very earlyspring to minimize winter injurydue to nitrogen being released intothe soil late in the season.

Accurate determination offertilizer needs is essential. Annualsoil tests may be used, but plantfoliar analysis has been proven tobe the most accurate way todetermine the nutritional status ofthe vine. This service is not free,but the cost is minimal.

Foliar analysis determines theactual nutritional status of theplants during critical periods ofgrowth. Take leaf samples in Juneand early July. Collect a double fistfull of mature leaves locatedopposite fruit clusters on fruitingshoots. Place the leaves in a paperbag and allow them to dry. Sendsamples to the Agronomic Divi-sion, North Carolina Departmentof Agriculture. To be most effec-tive, continue the practice fromyear to year to help establishtrends and change in nutrientlevels. Unfortunately, no singlemethod is completely accurate.Consequently, the alert groweruses all means available to developthe fertilizer program for a particu-lar vineyard. Appropriate levelsbased on whole-leaf nutrientconcentration are shown in Table 5.

Fertilizer DeficiencySymptoms

In North Carolina the elementsmost likely to limit grape produc-tion are nitrogen, phosphorus,potassium, magnesium, and boron.It is important to maintain soil pHat 6.0 with dolomitic lime through-out the life of the vineyard.

Nitrogen: Foliage of vinesdeficient in nitrogen are green toyellowish over the entire vine. Theoldest leaves are the least green.Shoot growth is short and leavesare smaller than on vines withadequate nitrogen. On the otherhand, too much nitrogen willresult in excessive growth, causinglate ripening of the crop andpossibly deficiencies in otherelements. Ideally, each shootshould grow 30 to 36 inches eachgrowing season.

Magnesium: Deficiency symp-toms develop first on basal leavesand shoots. Unless the deficiencyis severe, it does not becomeevident until late summer. Chloro-sis, or yellowing of the leavesbetween the veins while the veinsremain green, gives a “Christmastree” effect. As a vine becomesmore deficient in magnesium,chlorosis becomes more intense inolder leaves and progresses toyounger leaves. Young terminalleaves may never show symptomsunless the entire vine is extremelydeficient.

Boron: Boron deficiency mayresult in poor fruit set. Leafsymptoms are similar to those ofmagnesium deficiency; however,newer terminal leaves are affectedrather than older leaves. Probablythe most noticeable are the die-back of terminal shots and theprolific growth of lateral shoots,often several from each node.Boron deficiency is more commonon sandy soils with a high pH.

Visible symptoms generally do notappear until the vine is criticallydeficient in this micronutrient, sofoliar analysis is important inmonitoring boron status. For maturevineyards, a common recommenda-tion has been to apply 5 pounds peracre of Borax (10 percent) every2 years or spray annually with1 pound per 100 gallons of water ofSolubor (20 percent) just beforebloom. Excessive boron causesplant injury; do not exceed boronrecommendations.

Insect and Disease PInsect and Disease PInsect and Disease PInsect and Disease PInsect and Disease Pestsestsestsestsests

Establishment

During the 2 to 3 years requiredfor establishment, few insects ordiseases are usually encountered.However, Japanese beetles can bea fairly severe problem. They donot persist over the entire growingseason but normally feed over a4- to 6-week period; spray asneeded. Japanese beetles feed ongrass roots and may emerge inlarge numbers on land that waspreviously a well-establishedpasture. If the vineyard is to beestablished in an old pasture, makean extra effort to kill grass duringthe growing season precedingplanting. Sprays and/or cultiva-tion are effective methods foreliminating grass. Consult theNorth Carolina Agricultural Chemi-cals Manual or your local Coopera-tive Extension agent for specificrecommendations.

Growers inclined towardsustainable agriculture may bewilling to accept a greater level ofdamage. They may also try inter-planting companion plants orborders to repel or attract thebeetles. Although no research hasclearly proved its effectiveness,milky spore disease is frequentlyused in an attempt to control thegrub stage.

TTTTTable 5. Appropriate Lable 5. Appropriate Lable 5. Appropriate Lable 5. Appropriate Lable 5. Appropriate Levels ofevels ofevels ofevels ofevels ofNutrients Based on FNutrients Based on FNutrients Based on FNutrients Based on FNutrients Based on Foliar Analysisoliar Analysisoliar Analysisoliar Analysisoliar Analysis

Element (Unit)Element (Unit)Element (Unit)Element (Unit)Element (Unit) Optimal ROptimal ROptimal ROptimal ROptimal Rangeangeangeangeange

Nitrogen (%) 1.65 to 2.15Phosphorus (%) 0.12 to 0.18Potassium (%) 0.80 to 1.20Calcium (%) 0.70 to 1.10Magnesium (%) 0.15 to 0.25Boron (ppm) 15 to 25Copper (ppm) 5 to 10Iron (ppm) 60 to 120Manganese (ppm) 60 to 150Molybdenum (ppm) 0.14 to 0.35Zinc (ppm) 18 to 35

14

Grape root borer is not a threatduring the first 3 years. Appar-ently the borer requires somedegree of shade for successfulestablishment in a vineyard.

Symptoms of black rot mayappear on the leaves of musca-dines during the establishmentperiod, but since no fruit is usuallypresent and infections are notusually severe, sprays are notusually necessary.

A good sprayer for disease andinsect control is essential forprofitable production. To cover theleaf and fruit surface for diseasecontrol requires high pressure andmany nozzles or a high-speed airblast to break the material intosmall particles.

Mature Vines

Symptoms of Major Diseases

Angular leaf spot is an importantleaf disease. Faint, light yellowspots first appear on the leaves. Asthe yellow spots become morenoticeable, irregular brown flecksdevelop in the center of the spots.As the growing season progresses,the disease often increases andcauses extensive defoliation byharvest. If heavy defoliationoccurs, the yield and quality of thegrapes are reduced.

Bitter rot can be a very destruc-tive fruit disease. Infection occursshortly after bloom. Just beforeharvest, infected grapes turn blackwith spore-bearing structures(acervuli) erupting through theskin of the fruit. Rotted grapesmay or may not fall to the groundbefore harvest. The fungus infectsfruit stems, leaves, and youngshoots.

Powdery mildew attacks berryclusters and young grapes justafter flowering. Infected grapes arecovered with a white fungusgrowth. As the grapes enlarge, the

fungus growth disappears, but thegrapes become rough-skinned(russetted) and may crack. Grapedrop and reduced size of grapesoccur.

Ripe rot also causes a grape rotnear harvest. In recent years it hasbecome the most damaging fruitrot disease. Rotted grapes turndark brown over part or all of thegrape and have pink or orangespore masses on the surface. Riperot infections can occur at anystage of fruit development, butfruit infected in the green (unripe)stages do not rot until they beginto ripen. Once infected grapesbegin to rot and produce spores inthe vineyard, the disease canspread rapidly to other ripe fruit.The most devastating losses to thisdisease occur on susceptiblecultivars during rainy harvestseasons. Generally speaking, dark-skinned cultivars (Noble, Pride)are more resistant, while bronzecultivars (Carlos, Scuppernong,Magnolia) are more susceptible.

Macrophoma rot causes small,sunken, black fruit spots that areround with distinct edges in theearly part of the season. As harvestapproaches, these spots maydevelop a greasy-looking soft rotaround the initial lesion. A halodevelops around the black spot,and the entire fruit may rot justbefore harvest. Infections aresometimes not visible until the softrot stage occurs.

Black rot causes a circularbrown leaf spot and a black scabon grapes. Occasionally, lesionsoccur on the young stems andtendrils. Black rot seldom causesmuch damage in sprayed vine-yards.

Pierce’s disease is a bacterialpathogen of little importance onmost muscadine grapes, occasion-ally causing a marginal leaf burn

on susceptible cultivars such asCarlos. The cultivar Pride is highlysusceptible and may be killed bythe bacterium. Growers shouldavoid propagating from symptom-atic vines. Chemical control is notavailable.

Crown gall is caused by abacterium frequently associatedwith gall formation on grape vines.Galls are fleshy, irregularly shapedgrowths. The disease usuallyoccurs in association with freezeinjury, and galls may form allalong the length of the trunk andcordons. Fall planting exposes newvines to freeze injury and shouldbe avoided.

Controlling Major Diseases

Resistance. Plant disease-resistantcultivars. For instance, amonglarge-fruited bronze cultivars, Fryis very susceptible to ripe rot,while Triumph is not. As men-tioned earlier, dark-skinnedcultivars tend to have less ripe rot.

Cultural Practices. Reducediseases through cultural practices.Mowing or otherwise reducingundergrowth near vines willimprove air movement throughthe vineyard. Timely harvestingand removal of leftover fruit at theend of the season help reduce fruitrots. Avoid excessive late-seasonfertilizing to reduce disease andthe likelihood of winter injury tocordons and trunks of vines.

Fungicides. A regular sprayprogram with an effective fungi-cide plus an insecticide is highlybeneficial and profitable. Aneffective disease control programis essential to produce the highyields of quality grapes that arepossible with the newer varieties.In new vineyards, begin thedisease control program in thesecond or third season afterplanting. Repeated early season

15

applications of fungicides (May-June-July) are the most effective.

Grape Root Borer

The grape root borer is a nativespecies belonging to a family ofinsects known as clear-wingedmoths. The larva or borer, oncefinding a root, eats through theouter bark and then begins toexcavate an irregular burrow. Thisburrow may encircle the rootseveral times or run with the grainof wood. In larger roots thisexcavation is most likely to befound along the underside of theroot. Severe pruning and girdlingof roots lessens the feeding area ofthe vine, weakening the plant.Large numbers of borers causediscoloration, loss of vigor andproduction, and eventual death ofthe vine. The effect of borerfeeding may not be immediatelyapparent.

Detection. Grape root borerinjury first appears as discoloredleaves. Wilting, loss of production,and eventual death follows over aperiod of years. Examine weak-ened, wilting, and dead vines forprevious damage by borers oractual feeding. Full-grown borersare whitish with brown heads,sparsely covered with stiff hairs,1 ¾ inches long. Pupal skins shednear the base of vines in Augustare also signs of infestation. Adults

fly only by day and bear a strikingresemblance to wasps. However,grape root borer adults are moresluggish than wasps. Also, theirhind pair of wings are clear and inflight have less rapid wing vibra-tions. They are dark brown withtwo orange and yellow bands onthe abdomen and have orange-colored tufts on the tips of theabdomen.

Life Cycle. The grape root boreroverwinters in the larval stage, andpupation occurs near the soilsurface in June and July. The pupalstage requires about 39 days.Adults emerge from the pupal caseat the soil line during July andAugust. After mating, femalemoths lay some 500 eggs indis-criminately on weeds, leaves, andbases of grape vines during their7-day life. Flight occurs during theday, especially from noon to 4 p.m.Eggs hatch in about 15 days, andlarvae enter the soil in search ofroots. The cycle is repeated in2 years.

The grape root borer has beenreported on bunch grapes inRutherford, Cleveland,Mecklenburg, Johnston,Henderson, Stokes, and Onslowcounties. Reports on muscadinegrapes have been verified inOnslow, Anson, Richmond, Moore,Robeson, Lenoir, Jones, Pender,and Bladen counties. Additional

counties will be verified as grow-ers and Extension personnelclosely examine vineyards.

Control. Natural enemiesinclude barn swallows, mocking-birds, crested fly catchers, larvae offireflies, a number of fungi, and aspecies of nematodes. Otherparasites and predators undoubt-edly exist. However, whenweather conditions are unfavor-able, they fail to control the graperoot borer.

Resistant root stocks show somepromise, but will not be availablecommercially for many years.

A periodic and constant surveil-lance of vineyards during July andAugust could reduce infestationthrough elimination of adultfemales. Females, once engaged inegg laying, can very readily beapproached and killed. The femalereleases a strong sex attractant thatattracts males for mating. Studiesare in progress using a masstrapping and mating confusiontechnique. Identification andcommercial availability of thepheromone are under investigation.

Grape root borers can becontrolled with chemicals. ApplyLorsban 4E at the rate of 4 1/2pints in 100 gallons of water.Apply a quart dilute mixture ofspray to the soil at the base of thevine. Make a single applicationwith a herbicide low-pressuresprayer 35 days before harvest. Donot let spray contact the fruit orfoliage.

Tests in North Carolina indicatethat plastic or ridges of soil placedaround the base of vines provide aphysical barrier that prevents adultemergence. It also helps controlweeds around young vines. Propertiming (about August 1) is criticalwith this procedure and needs tobe determined for areas andindividual vineyards.

TTTTTable 6. Fable 6. Fable 6. Fable 6. Fable 6. Fungicide Effectiveness in Control of Grape Diseases*ungicide Effectiveness in Control of Grape Diseases*ungicide Effectiveness in Control of Grape Diseases*ungicide Effectiveness in Control of Grape Diseases*ungicide Effectiveness in Control of Grape Diseases*

MacroMacroMacroMacroMacro-----FFFFFungicideungicideungicideungicideungicide AngularAngularAngularAngularAngular BitterBitterBitterBitterBitter PPPPPowderyowderyowderyowderyowdery RipeRipeRipeRipeRipe phomaphomaphomaphomaphoma BlackBlackBlackBlackBlack PlantPlantPlantPlantPlant(R(R(R(R(Rate/Aate/Aate/Aate/Aate/Acre)cre)cre)cre)cre) LLLLLeaf Spoteaf Spoteaf Spoteaf Spoteaf Spot R R R R Rototototot Mildew Mildew Mildew Mildew Mildew R R R R Rototototot R R R R Rototototot R R R R Rototototot SafetySafetySafetySafetySafety

Captan 50WP(4.0 lb/acre) XXXX XXXX 0 XXX XXX XXXXX XXXXX

Wettable Sulfur(4.0 lb/acre) 0 0 XXXXX 0 0 0 XXXX

Nova 40WP(5.0 oz/acre 0 XXXX XXXX 0 X XXXX XXXXX

*(0 = ineffective or injurious; xxxxx = very effective or very safe)

16

Cultural methods like weedcontrol, fertilization, irrigation,clean cultivation, and weeklycultivation (disturbance of top1 inch of soil) help reduce injury.Hence, the condition of the vine,whether it is a healthy, goodproducer or a weakened, poorproducer because of the lack ofgood cultural practices, is adeciding factor in the decline of avine as a result of injury by borers.

TTTTTrainingrainingrainingrainingraining

During the first two or threeyears, vines need regular training(Figure 6), which means workingon each vine once a week through-out the growing season. Trainingestablishes the optimal shape andposition of the vine for vineyardmanagement and maximumproductivity. Proper training isaccomplished by selecting a singleshoot and training it up a bamboostake or string. Various materialsare used for attaching vines to thestake. The current standard mate-rial is a plastic tape sold by mostvineyard supply companies. Thetape seems to decay, so girdling isnot common.

Train the young vines up thestake or string to the wire. Whenthe vine reaches the wire, pinch itback to approximately 4 inchesbelow the wire. This will encouragea V-shaped branching. Choose twoof these lateral branches and begintraining them along the wire asfuture cordons. Continually removelateral suckers along the trunk inorder to direct all the plant’sgrowth into the growing tips of thecordons. Until the cordons reachfull length, cut back side shoots toapproximately 4 to 6 inches duringthe growing season. Likewise,remove all fruit at the earliestpossible stage in order to directgrowth to the desired shoots.

Pruning Mature Vines

Unpruned vines become a tangledmass of unproductive and oftendiseased wood. Figure 7 shows thevine structure of a properlypruned muscadine. If you have“inherited” a poorly managedmuscadine vine, use the steps in“Pruning Neglected Vines” torenew the fruitfulness of vineswhere annual pruning has beenneglected.

Pruning is a key to maintaininghealthy fruit-bearing wood. Fruit isborne on current season shoots;however, these shoots must arise

from buds set on the previousyear’s growth (Figure 8). Shootsarising from older wood usuallyare unfruitful. Pruning principlesare the same whether you aretraining your muscadine vines to avertical wire (VW) trellis or aGeneva Double Curtain (GDC).Most important is to leave anappropriate amount of last year’swood on the vine. One-year-oldwood is the only source of fruitfulshoots on the plant. The onlydifference in the VW and GDC isthe arrangement and number offruiting arms. The VW system hastwo permanent fruiting arms or

Figure 6. Methods of training a young vine.

String or Wire

Nail

StubBuds

Post

CutStake

Figure 7. Framework of vine.

Fruiting Spur

PermanentArm

Trunk

17

cordons; the GDC has four perma-nent arms or cordons (Figure 9).

Step-by-step pruning:1. In the dormant season, prune

back all 3-inch-long wood(called “canes”) that grew theprevious year to fruiting spurs.No scientific evidence suggeststhat yields or fruit quality inmuscadines will be improvedby more time-consuming“balanced pruning” methods ormore complex formulas used inbunch grape pruning. Musca-dine pruning is quite simpleand can be accomplished with amechanical hedger or handpruners. However, use greatcaution when pruning with anymechanical hedging equipment.

2. On young vines, leave the1-year-old “shortened canes,”or “spurs,” about 6 inches apart.As the vine grows older, it willdevelop clusters of spurs at eachof these locations on the fruitingarm. These clusters are called

“bearers” (approximately6 inches apart).

3. After the 4th or 5th year offruiting, begin to thin out someof these bearers. This thinningwill force new spur growth toreplace these older bearers. It iscritical to keep fruiting spurs

(of 1-year-old wood) close to theoriginal fruiting arm.

4. Experience has shown that it isbetter to gradually thin out theolder bearers starting in thethird fruiting season (5- to 6-year-old vine), than to wait untilthe fourth or fifth fruitingseason (7- to 8-year-old vine).

5. Each year, remove wood thathas grown at the top of thetrunk. This helps to maintainvigorous growth and goodyields along the lengths of thefruiting arms. If an arm be-comes cold-injured, or broken,REMOVE IT ENTIRELY BACKTO THE HEAD OF THE VINE,AND TRAIN A NEW CANE TOREPLACE IT.

6. Grapevines grow tendrils thatbind to the trellis or whatever isnearby. They are especiallybothersome when they encirclethe trunk or fruiting arms. Toprevent girdling damage,remove all tendrils attached tothe trunk or fruiting arm of thevine.

7. Vines pruned in late winter willHarvesting of muscadine grapes

Figure 8. One-year wood and spurs.

4” Fruiting Spur(1 Year Wood)

Thicker, OlderWood

Figure 9. Pruning a mature vine.

Prune wherebars show cuts.

After pruning(about 25 spursper 10’ arm).

Before Pruning

18

Figure 10. Pruning a neglected vine.

begins in early September andcontinues through October,depending on location andvariety. Generally, the fruit ispicked over several harvests forfresh marketing and in oneharvest for processing.

Pruning Neglected Vines

Unless a vine is pruned in eachdormant season, fruit-bearingwood develops farther and fartheraway from the permanent fruitingarms each year. Eventually, there isonly a thin layer of new growthover a mass of tangled, nonbearingwood. If this occurs, the proceduredescribed below is necessary, but itis never required if annual pruningis practiced, and if the olderbearers are gradually thinned out,starting in the vine’s third fruitingseason.

Step-by-step renewal:1. Cut away most of the perma-

nent arm (cordon), and leaveonly a 6-inch “stub” at the headof the vine (Figure 10) for eacharm that requires renewal. Useone of the new shoots that will

arise in the spring from therenewal area for training into anew fruiting arm.

2. Remove all other shoots thatdevelop from the renewal areaduring the summer. These willonly compete with the shootyou have selected for the newfruiting arm. You will essen-tially lose a season of produc-tion as a result of this proce-dure.

3. If more than one vine is in-volved in a renewal project, cutback half of the vines the firstyear, and the remainder thesecond year to avoid losing anentire crop.

4. In many instances, setting newvines may be preferable torenovating poorly trained vinesthat do not have good trunksand fruiting arm structures.

HarvestingHarvestingHarvestingHarvestingHarvesting

Harvesting of muscadine grapesbegins in early September andcontinues through October, de-pending on location and variety.Generally, the fruit is picked over

several harvests for fresh marketingand in one harvest for processing.

Mechanized harvest: Mechani-cal harvesters permit once-overharvest for grapes to be processed,working at the rate of 1 acre perhour. This equipment is veryexpensive, and growers areadvised to have their wine grapescustom-harvested. Bulk binshandled with forklifts are usedwith harvesters, completing themechanization process.

Catch-frame harvesting is usedwhere custom harvesting servicesare unavailable and the vineyard istoo small to justify an investmentin a mechanical harvester. Catchframes fit under vines and collectberries as they fall. Berries areusually shaken from the vine bystriking the trellis with a paddedclub, and the catch frame funnelsthem into a suitable sized con-tainer, commonly perforatedplastic bins. Catch-frame harvest-ing requires three to five people formaximum efficiency. Average timeper vine is 3 to 7 minutes.

Fresh fruit: Carefully hand-pickfruit that is to be used for freshsales. Some varieties, such asCarlos, are easily removed fromthe vines and have a dry stem scar.Other varieties (Fry, Magnolia, andNoble) tear when pulled from thecluster and have wet stem scars, soclip the entire cluster with shears.Sort and grade the berries, thenpackage the best fruit in a suitablecontainer. Unlike the American(Eastern Type) Bunch Grapeindustry that has establishedUSDA standards, there are nomaturity standards or grades forfresh bronze or black muscadinevarieties. To prolong shelf life, useplastic clamshells and hold grapesat approximately 34° F until thefruit is sold.

Before Pruning

After Pruning

Make cut 6 - 8”from “V”.

19

Customer harvest (“U-Pick”):Some growers have had successwith growing muscadines forcustomer harvest. SuccessfulU-Pick operations are located nearpopulation centers. It is best tostart a U-Pick vineyard on a smallscale and expand as demand forfruit increases. Pre-picking fruit forsale at the vineyard or for sale atfarm markets and/or satellitestands is becoming increasinglyimportant as fewer people seem tohave the time and interest inharvesting their own grapes.Larger grapes like Triumph,Nesbitt, and Supreme are becom-ing increasingly popular for directmarketing.

ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion

As a commercial grower or pro-spective grower, you can now fitthe pieces together on the mostcurrent varieties of muscadines forboth fresh and processing uses,and follow the guidelines onvineyard establishment, manage-ment, harvesting, and marketing.

In addition to the information inthis publication, consult withsuccessful growers, researchstations, winery representatives,and your local CooperativeExtension agent for advice beforeplanting. After you have decidedto plant, follow the guidelinescarefully. To be successful, youmust do a complete job of growingand marketing. There are nosecrets or shortcuts.

RRRRReferenceseferenceseferenceseferenceseferences

Grape Root Borer. Insect Note#G-4, NC State University, http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Fruits/fruitg3.html

Insects Reported on Grapes inNorth Carolina, Insect Note#G-2, NC State University,http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Fruits/NoteG-2.html

Muscadine Grape Diseases andTheir Control. Fruit DiseaseNote #12, NC State University,http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/notes/Fruit/fdin012/fdin012.htm

Muscadine Grapes. Fouad M.Basiouny and David G.Himelrick, Eds. 2001, ASHSPress, Alexandria, VA, http://www.ashs.org/ashspress/mgrapes.html

North Carolina AgriculturalChemicals Manual, “Musca-dine Grape Spray Program,”NC State University, publishedannually and on the Web athttp://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/chptr7/707.pdf

North Carolina AgriculturalChemicals Manual, “WeedControl in Fruit Crops,” NCState University, publishedannually and on the Web athttp://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/chptr8/813.pdf

Published byTHE NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race,color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and localgoverments cooperating.

04/03 —2M—JMG/VG (Revised) AG-94E03-42840

2,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $0,000.00 or $.00 per copy.

Prepared by

E. Barclay Poling, Professor, Horticultural Science

Charles M. Mainland, Professor Emeritus, Horticultural Science

William T. Bland, Agricultural Research Technician, Horticultural Science

Bill Cline, Research and Extension Specialist, Plant Pathology

Kenneth A. Sorensen, Professor, Entomology

Special thanks to the North Carolina Grape Council, Inc., andthe Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium

for underwriting the cost of printing this publication.