I love the taste of muscadine jelly, It's sweet but tart taste is a
summertime favorite.

I'm planning to make my first muscadine jelly soon. (Or, maybe jam.)
Do you make your own? If so, do you have any suggestions?

When you eat fresh muscadines, do you eat the seeds or do you
separate the seeds from the pulp and spit them out?

I recently moved from Maryland to Northeast Texas (north of Dallas).
 Can muscadines grow in my new environment?  Should I be subscribed
to a different newsletter for my particular region?

 I live in south GA.  I planted three Scuppernongs vines three years
ago.  To this date they haven't produced any grapes.  What can I do
to get these vines to produce?  I do have pollinateor in the group. 
Any help will be appreciated.

Eddie, when I planted my first vine and it basically didn't do a
great deal till about three years after planting.  I am not sure if
this is the norm, but the ones I have planted since then have had
the same pattern.

Hey, I sure would like that recipe.  This is my first year with a
bumper crop... Would love to make some jelly:-)

I am from South America, and I did not know anything about muscadine
grapes.  I was introduced by my exhusband and we had an incredible
bush between my home and my neighbours'.  After my neighbour moved
out, the new neighbour hated these type of grapes and I beged them
to let me have it.  I did not get it and they kill all the way to
the root.  I managed to pull some roots and planted in my side. 
What can I do to encourage them to come out? I loved them from the
first time I tasted them, and I miss them so much!! The roots are
very old; perhaps 50 years old.

Brenda, most people bite a hole in the skin, suck out the pulp,
seeds and all, then spit out the seeds. Some people eat the whole
thing, some eat the skin and pulp and spit out the seeds. So I guess
it's up to you!

Theresa, 
I don't see any reason why you couldn't grow muscadines at your new
home in Texas. And feel free to subscribe to more than one
newsletter if you'd like. Skip Richter's Lower South report might be
particularly helpful, but I'd hate to lose you!

Laura, 
I'm not sure you can do much to encourage the muscadine root you
planted to flourish. Keeping the soil moist is about all you can do.
keep an eye out for sprouts, keep the area weeded to minimize
competition from other plants, and perhaps protect the new sprouts
from hungry rabbits or from getting stepped on. The old roots should
have some stored energy, so if there are latent buds, hopefully
they'll get the message that it's time to grow. Good luck.

> Would like some seed/plants have a trade list get info, thanks,
rosequeen001@yahoo.com

> Where did you find the seed? Thanks for info, Kathie In Ga.

I was blessed with a small muscadine (scuppernong actually - they
are plum colored) vine when I moved into my house. Over the past
several years it has grown huge. Its on a double wire trellis, and
is thick enough to act as sort of a privacay fence in the spring and
summer. 
Wal-Mart charges outrageous amounts for muscadine grapes... four
dollar for a quart box. Fortunately if you dont have a vine, in the
south you can find the vines all over the sides of the road. It
seems muscadine vines are second only to Kudzu. 
Jelly is easy to make. Buy a pack of Certo Pectin, and follow the
directions inside. This is how I do it:
Pick the fruit, usually during the month of september. I just
finished the harvest here (By the way I call my place "It doesn't
matter Vineyards". Our slogan is "When someone asks you what kind of
jelly you like, tell them 'It Doesn't Matter'"). Color isnt
important, as they come in all shades. You want them that are just a
little squishy, and come off with a gentle tug. 
I squash the fruit by hand into a pot, add just a little (1/2
cup)water, and bring to a boil. Then simmer for ten minutes. Let
cool in the pot, and separate the pulp and juice in a sieve. Strain
the solids out of this through a cloth (I use a dinner napkin).
Store liquid in fridge overnight if you want, or make jelly
immediately. I freeze the juice until I have enough to make a LOT at
once. If you leave more than a day in the fridge, the sugars start
to crystalize out. Thats how I get the juice. Follow the Certo
Directions for everything else. 
I made 40 8oz jars last year, and gave a LOT away for X-Ma$$ gifts.
Of course I kept enough to get me through the year. My jelly comes
out a golden color, because of my grapes. I throw in a few black
muscadines sometimes, and it comes out a wonderful rose color. 
I eat muscadine jelly on toast every morning. Its wonderful!

Oh - one more thing. For you people with young vines. Muscadines
DONT produce until the third year or after! If you're planting seeds
this year... you're in for a wait. Google Muscadine vines...there
are nurseries that sell three year-old vines. I saved seeds from
this years grapes, and will see if they come up next year. 

Thanks so much for writing, Mark!

  Eddie,
 I have a single plant purchased from a local nursery in upstate S.C
where I live. It is three years old and this year I just picked 68
pounds of scuppernongs to make 10 gallons of wine. How? There's
really no secret to a good crop other than a very few steps. I
fertilize it with 10-10-10 approx. 3 times a year. During the Very
Hot and Humid summer months the plants need about 25 gallons of
water a week. Don't keep the ground saturated or the roots will
actually start growing on top of the ground. Muscadines need great
drainage! Believe it or not, they don't need watering the others
months. Loamy soil is their favorite!
  Here's the Big THANG! Pruning is the whole key to having your
plant produce. Grow 2 main runners up 4 feet off the ground and out
10 feet both directions. 20 foot total wire trellis length. Cutting
the other runners off at the base will cause your plant to really
run. There will be shoots off the sides of your main running vines.
Let them grow till they grow to around 4-5 leaf segments long then
prune them right above the last shoot(leaf). Run the main vines to
the ends of your trellis posts, constantly using this pruning
technique. You may have a few bunches of grapes by the second year
but by the third year, you should be tickled to death! Plants
produce in their peak for twenty years and after that, it's
genetically correct to re-plant new ones in their stead. 
    Remember not to cut the side shoots too close to the main vine.
Let them grow a little bit then trim. And of course , you'll then
have new growth off these cut runners! Twine is good to use to help
the main runners twist and run toward the trellis posts (Tie them
loose). To help you understand the trellis deal, just remember,
you're building a clothes line and planting a vine in the middle to
be grown up and over towards the supporting poles! Sorry this is so
long, but it's the short version on successful scuppernongs. 2 more
things! Carlos Bronze muscadines is the most popularly grown for
many many reasons. You'll have to research that or take me for my
word. And, when it comes to pruning these vines, don't be surprised
once your vines get to running, if you're not out there every 3-4
days or so pruning new growth. 
   Good luck with what has worked for me!
      

ricky....what would you suggest for a vine that has been left
unpruned for many years? Mine is so thick in the summer I cant see
from one side to the other. It is NOT a great producer, but I would
like it to be. I noticed my best producing section is the new stuff
(i just added a length of trellis wire and it really took off last
year). From one end to the other its probably eighty feet of vines. 
I have read that pruning is the key to production, but I dont want
to chop off the good stuff. Over the winter I'd love to cut it back
some. I also would like to get some new vines... but want to make
sure they are self-pollinating. What would you suggest?

 Mark,
   First let me say 80 feet, wow! I used to hunt and see the vines
that big w/some fruit on them but just enough to get the deers
attention and not mine. If I were you and I really hate suggesting
anything unless I know the growing zone, I would do an extreme
makeover! Of course you do realize this may have a temporary affect
on your crop for next year right? But just like when you first plant
a vine, you have to train it (prune) to get it under control and
producing fruit!
 Ever see pictures of vines growing in big vineyards with the main
vine trunk the size of a tree with little vines growing off them?
They are still big producers! Set the main runners at a certain
length, mine is twenty feet, and let them go no further( cut them
off).  You have alot of plant there (80 feet) all wanting it's share
of the soil nutrients. Your vine sounds like an awesome specimen but
I think you need to take away some of the mass that's not producing.
   More plant mass will not = more fruit, you've already seen that.
I understand you don't want to lose next years crop on your new
growth and the decision is ultimately yours on how much to cut back.
So, maybe you can do a little pruning on your new growth and really
prune hard and get some kind of assemblance on the rest of this
monster vine. Just don't prune all the way back to your main running
vine(there will be no new growth). 
  Mark, I spend alot of time watching my vine grow and giving it an
occasional "haircut" to keep it in check and to get it to produce.
It just sounds like this plant is using all the soils energy for
greenery and no fruit. I know you're skeered and I wish I could come
and do it for you, but have faith! I'd also visit a local nursery
and ask them for their opinion as well, as they probably know your
zone better than I ever will. Unless you're zone seven?!
  My plant, Carlos Bronze, is a light green-bronze color muscadine
and it's self pollinating as well. I know I'm biased towards this
type but hey, Are you getting 68 pounds of fruit on a twenty foot
2-wire trellis system? I know some people maybe thinking I'm full of
it, and that's o.k, but I'd be willing to purchase you a carlos
bronze if these suggestions I'm offering causes you any grief
whatsoever!!! I'd only be out about 10 dollars!
  If you would also like a "this years plant with fruit on the vine"
picture, I could mail you one! I don't own a digital camera yet but
I'd send you a 5x7 picture! And thats not all, if you're the first
caller, just kidding! Just a few more tips on muscadines: Your plant
needs air flow through it especially in humid climates(pruning out
the middle,prevents bunch rot). Muscadines prefer full sun but keep
enough foliage on the vine around your bunches(fruit) to prevent
sunburning the skins (wine makers tip). Stink bugs,earwigs and
yellow jackets can be kept at bay with a light spraying of "liquid
seven".
  Well, I better go and quit making this "my forum". I hope I have
helped you or anyone else. Take care! 

Thanks for the help ricky. I am definitely going to get the clippers
out and trim the beast this fall after all the leaves fall off. 
As for my zone...I am right on the border between zones 7 and 8 (Pee
Dee region of SC) On a gently sloping hillside with somewhat sandy
soil. 
My Eighty foot vine is actually three vines that are intermingled
with each other. I just made my last batch of jelly, and it was a
big disappointment. 
I have been looking on the internet, and I think I have a magnolia
scuppernong variety. Spotty green at first, ripening to a
pinkish-bronze color. I plan on ordering some more in a few weeks.
If I do too much to my main vine this year, maybe in two it will be
producing again. 
I like jelly, but want to try my hand at wine. Is there a good
scuppernong grape for both? Can you suggest a nursery in the
southeast?
I got a book "from vines to wines" by jeff cox, and it has a lot of
good stuff in it. I learned a lot about fertilizer, and watering,
etc. etc. Jst got to get the trimmers out. 

   Hello again,
First of all I have to admit, I know nothing about jelly! I wish I
could help you there, but my mom still does the jelly thing! Now
wine! I've seen the book you have at Barnes and Noble but had
already purchased "Home wine making; Step by Step". I ordered all my
supplies from a company called E.C Kraus. Goto www.eckraus.com and
read the "articles sections" and 7 easy steps to winemaking. They
make it very understandable for simple people like me. But no
kidding, my wine is already in the second fermentation step (12%
alcohol) and still cooking. But let me warn you! Wine presses cost a
bunch($300 appr.) to extract the juice, but I'll let you in on a
little redneck secret.
 And this is my invention!!! I crushed my grapes in an industrial
yellow mop bucket I purchased from home depot. I crushed them 5 lbs
at a time in a small nylon net bag (to hold the pulp)and it worked
good enough to do my 2 five gallon batches of wine. It's good you
bought a book because it will educate you, but eckraus makes it so
easy.
   One more warning? Their recipe section is awesome and follow it
almost to the letter except for the sugar amount. Instead of 9
pounds of sugar, it's more like 8.5 pounds! Both my batches now are
almost identical in recipes.When you get enough grapes to make your
wine, e-mail me and I'll walk you through everything! It's so easy
man! Hard work at first, but very rewarding! rickeedeebee@msn.com
  One more little money saver on your wine makin venture. We have a
store here in greenville called OLD TIME POTTERY. They sell their 5
gallon glass secondary fermenting bottles for $15. Online shopping
price is about 32 dollars. This store of course sells this glass 5
gal. container as just an ornamental penny holding jar, but it's the
same thing as they sell on wine making online stores for half the
price!
 By the way, I've never heard of your magnolia species plant and am
very interested in it's potential. Please keep me informed on it's
progress and the fruit production. Scuppernongs are gaining in
popularity across the World and guess what, this "wild" grape came
from the carolinas. North Carolina to be exact! But still in the
deep south! I appreciate the correspondence and I know with your
interest and knowledge seeking attitude, you'll do awesome! Wish I
could help you with the jelly!
   

thanx ricky!
I will e-mail you in the future.... its funny you mention EC Kraus.
I have been on their mailing list for a while now, and even have a
catalog. Their "your fruit" kit seems good...but I still want one of
the 5-gal carboys.
I ordered some new three-year vines this week (carlos, magnolia,
cowart and a seedless red crimson), and plan on pruning my current
one when it goes dormant. I still have a grape straggler or two
hidden amoung the leaves, and boy are they SWEET when I find one.
Hopefully if I butcher my vine too badly, the new ones will still
produce enough grapes for wine. If not, theres always jelly, which I
have down pat now. 
I'm guessing from the description of my vines they are the
"magnolia" variety sold by the nursery I picked out, but I really
have no way of knowing WHAT they are. It seems every online nursery
has different varieties for sale (although obviously most of them
have Carlos). 
The interesting thing is about twenty miles up the road from me is
an old winery (in Ruby, SC). The buildings were vacant the last time
I saw it, but the vineyards are still there, heavily overgrown with
trees and other plants. My grapes are the same as those vineyard
grapes... so they have to be something decent for wine I guess. You
can pick the grapes near the edge of the road, but you cant get to
far into the place without a machete! I'm guessing from the tree
growth its been at least fifteen years since the place was open. 

I just tried some muscadines and scuppernongs for the first time...
i had tried the juice earlier, and thought it was delicious....

these were disgusting.

i tried giving one to my dog, and she wouldn't eat it, and she eats
EVRERYTHING!!!

Where can I buy Scuppernong vines to grow???

Joe

Here are a few I came across when I searched the Internet. Your
local garden center may also carry them. 
http://www.tytyga.com/
http://www.aaronscanna-amaryllis.com/

well you can fertilize them and maybe if there still alive it will
help , if it dont i am growing some in my green house right now and
when their ready maybe i could give u a good deal on one like 5
dollars and i will send it to you 

there was a mistake on the price i just put on here not 5 but 15-20
it depends on the variety

Howdy! Can scuppernongs grow good in Oklahoma? And if so, where do
you get them?

I have a Scuppernong vine growing on the chain link fence in my
backyard between my house and my neighbors. The vine is actually in
the other yard and extends onto my side and the other neighbors
forming a T-shaped vine. The neighbors that have the vine planted in
their yard both died last year and the house place is kinda
up-in-th-air on what will happen with it. There's a honeysuckle
vine, a rose bush and some unknown trees mingled with it. I am
afraid whoever moves in might chop all of it down. The people that
own and rent out the house on the other side have already cleared it
back off of their property. I was wondering what would be the best
way to start the vine in my yard? This vine produces well and has
the best flavor of any I have ever ate. The size of the scuppernongs
are not as big as some I have tried but are of descent size and not
small at all. My parents and a friend also want to start a vine. It
being Sept and most of the fruit is just about gone, I need to know
when and how to start this process. Any help would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks.