How to Prepare Soil for Muscadines

Muscadine grapes provide a versatile grape choice to the home gardener. The fruits work well for table use, in jams or as a wine grape. There are both green and black muscadine varieties. The vigorous plants are resistant to most disease and insect pests, so they require less maintenance compared to other grape varieties. Like all grapes, muscadines require specific soil conditions to grow well. With proper soil preparation the plants remain productive for years.

Shovel
Soil test kit
Composted manure
Agricultural lime
Fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Dig a 2-foot deep hole in the planting site. Fill the hole with water. If the water drains within four hours, the site has adequate drainage. If the water doesn't drain, choose a better draining site or amend the soil for drainage.
- 2
  Spread 2 to 4 inches of composted manure or peat over the planting site to improve drainage. Work the compost into the top 8 inches of the soil.
- 3
  Test the soil with a soil pH kit, which measures the acidity and nutrient qualities of the soil, following the directions included with the kit. Perform the test six months prior to planting. Muscadines prefer a pH range between 5.8 and 6.5.
- 4
  Add agricultural lime to the planting site, using the amount recommended by the soil test. Cultivate the lime into the top 6 to 10 inches of the soil. Apply lime six months prior to planting.
- 5
  Apply a fertilizer to the planting area two weeks before you plant. Follow the nutrient recommendations of the soil test to determine the type and amount of fertilizer necessary.

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