When Do You Take Cuttings From Muscadine Grapes?

Time of Year for Cuttings

• Muscadine grapes have vigorous, deciduous vines that are in their prime for taking cuttings during the summer's active growing season. This is generally from late May to August. Ensure that the muscadine grape vines are in excellent shape for propagation by keeping them well hydrated, free of pathogens and pests, and well fertilized.

Parent Vines

• It's illegal to take cuttings from patented muscadine grape vine cultivars, so ask for permission before taking the cutting or use a nonpatented variety. Also, avoid muscadine grape vines that are younger than 3 years old because the plant most likely has not established its trueness to variety like vigor, purity and appearance.

Where to Cut

• Choose muscadine grape vines that have proven to have good crops, are vigorous, uninjured and free of pests and pathogens. Choose an area of vine that is green but not too moist, and about as thick as a pencil. If you are taking the muscadine grape cutting during May or June, use the basal, or bottom, part of the shoot. The middle portion of the muscadine grape vine is better for cuttings taken during July and August. Add the young tip of the vine to a compost pile. Using a clean, sharp blade, take the cutting from just above the node where the new growth began.

Making Multiple Cuttings

• Each muscadine grape vine has the potential to produce two to four cuttings. At every couple of leaf nodes, cut just above the node to make a new cutting. Remove the bottom portion of leaves from each cutting, but don't pull off too many leaves because the rooting hormone for sprouting the new roots is contained in the leaves.

Rooting the Cuttings

• Some gardeners choose to dip the end of the cutting's stem in rooting hormone to speed up and/or increase the chance of rooting, but this is optional. Stick the cutting's stem halfway in tepid water or a growing medium such as soil. If using soil, keep the soil moist and well drained, but not soggy. Keep the leaves moist using a sterilized spray bottle filled with clean water. Create a mini greenhouse to keep the leaves moist and humid by enclosing the cuttings in a dome of clear plastic or glass. Ensure that there is good circulation by not allowing any part of the dome to touch the leaves. It takes an average of two weeks for the muscadine grape cuttings to grow roots.