Can Muscadine Vines Be Grown in Pots?

Potting

• Muscadine vines need a large planting container to ensure that the roots have plenty of room for healthy development. A pot that is at least 24 inches wide, 12 inches deep and has several 1/4-inch draining holes in the bottom is ideal. Cover the holes inside the pot with a 2-inch layer of coarse gravel or broken pottery pieces to allow excess water to drain without washing out the growing medium. Though muscadine vines perform satisfactorily in loam-based, commercial potting soil mixes, you can easily make a nutrient-rich and well-draining growing medium at home by combining 5 parts loam, 4 parts peat moss, 2 parts well-rotted compost, 1 part perlite and 1 part sand. Plant the muscadine vine in the pot at the same depth it grew in the nursery.

Sunlight

• Grapevines require more than six hours of direct sunlight per day to form flavorful grape clusters. Sites with full sun exposure help to ensure that your vine has the energy it needs to bear a healthy fruit crop. Place the potted muscadine vine near a fence, trellis, arbor, pergola or similar support system. Tying several of the vine's strongest tendrils to the support with strips of nylon panty hose will encourage them to climb and twine.

Irrigation

• Supplemental irrigation is needed while the muscadine vines are actively growing and producing grape clusters. Because pots get drying sun and winds from all sides, potted vines require more frequent irrigation than their garden-grown counterparts. You'll need to water your potted muscadine vines thoroughly once or twice a week to maintain a moist, well-draining growing medium, irrigating the vine with your garden hose until water streams from the drainage holes. Water less frequently during periods of heavy rainfall.

Fertilization

• Regular applications of fertilizer provide potted muscadine vines with the nutrients they need to perform their best. You'll want to fertilize your vine with an application of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer once a month from March through June, applying the fertilizer according to the application and rate instructions on the product label. Over-fertilization and improper fertilization encourages faster vine and foliage growth at the expense of grape production.