What benefits do muscadines have?

Muscadine grapes are fat free, high in fiber and they are high in antioxidants, especially ellagic acid and resveratrol. Ellagic acid has demonstrated anticarcinogenic properties in the colon, lungs and liver of mice. Resveratrol is reported to lower cholesterol levels and the risk of coronary heart disease.

Are muscadine grapes easy to grow?

A warm-climate loving variety, Muscadine Grapes are essential for the southern garden. Not only are they easy to grow, but they also produce prolifically. If you’ve been dreaming of making lots of jam, jelly, or wine, muscadines are for you.

How fast do muscadine vines grow?

Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) is a grape that is native to warm, humid climates of the southern U.S. In an ideal climate and with good cultivation practices muscadines can be expected to yield grapes in two to three years.

How do you tell the difference between a male and female muscadine vine?

Male flowers have extended stamens and are missing the female pistil. Female flowers have shorter reflexed stamens with nonfunctional pollen. Perfect flowers have functional pistils along with extended stamens with functional pollen. Female cultivars often have reduced yields.

Is the skin of a muscadine good for you?

The skin gives the muscadine natural resistance to disease, fungi and insects, and it stores many antioxidants, the study said. Grape phenolics serve as anti-inflammatory agents, can reduce the risk of certain cancers and help prevent high blood pressure and heart disease, Marshall said.

What is the difference between grapes and muscadines?

Unlike table grapes that ripen simultaneously in a pendulous bunch, muscadines ripen individually in loose clusters. Compared to other grape species, muscadine grapevines may produce almost eight-fold yields of other grapes.

Where do muscadines grow best?

Muscadines thrive in the hot, humid weather of the South. They like a sunny location with good air circulation. They also prefer deep, fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 6 and 6.5.

Are muscadines self pollinating?

Self-fertile muscadine varieties produce fruit on their own and also pollinate up to 3 females within 50′. A bronze female can be pollinated by a black self-fertile and a black female can pollinated by a bronze self-fertile. Wherever you have a female muscadine planted you must have a self-fertile within 50 feet.

How much water do muscadines need?

Water is vital for the growth of the plant. We recommend 24 gallons of water per week on developing vines and 36 gallons of water per week on established vines. You want the soil to be moist 2 inches deep. We recommend installing drip irrigation on your vines to ensure that they receive the proper water.

How deep are muscadine roots?

½ inch
Muscadines are shallow rooted with most of the feeder roots in the top ½ inch of soil. To avoid damage to these roots, cultivate shallowly and only as frequently as necessary to control weeds.

Do muscadine grapes need a pollinator?

While perfect flowered muscadine vines can self-pollinate and set fruit, they set much more fruit with the aid of pollinators. Pollinators can increase production by as much as 50% in perfect flowered, self-fertile cultivars.