Can You Grow Scuppernong Muscadines From Their Seeds?

Seed Preparation

• If you want to grow scuppernong muscadine grapes from seed, here's how. Select a nice bunch of ripe scuppernong grapes. Each grape typically contains four or five large seeds. Take the seeds and rinse them in lukewarm water, making sure to remove any pulp. Spread seeds on a paper plate and let dry for 24 hours. After seeds have dried, seal them in a zip-top plastic sandwich bag half filled with peat moss and place in a refrigerator for three months. This step is essential to ensure germination.

Starting Seedlings

• After three months of cold storage, put the seeds in 4-inch diameter planting pots filled three-fourths full with sterile potting soil. Plant seeds about 1/4 inch deep, spray the soil with lukewarm water until well moistened and place the pots in an area with bright, indirect sunlight and a temperature around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep soil moist but not soaking wet. Seeds should germinate within two to three weeks. Once seedlings are well established, which will take several weeks, transfer them to a larger pot at least 6 inches in diameter. Place the large pots outdoors, keep them watered and let the seedlings grow until next spring.

Planting

• After a year of growth in pots, your seedlings should be ready for spring planting in your vineyard. Depending on your vineyard's size, plant scuppernong grapes 12-20 feet apart in rows set 10-15 feet apart. Place each vine in a hole big enough for the entire root system and deep enough to have several inches of soil above the roots. Keep soil moist but not soaking wet. You should construct your trellis at or before planting time. Attach a single horizontal strand of heavy wire to 6-by-6-inch posts set 4 feet deep and 15-20 feet apart. Wire should be 5-6 feet above the ground. For a long trellis, install 4-by-4-inch posts every 15 feet.

Training

• Your new vines need to be trained to your trellis. Select the strongest and straightest shoot and tie it to a length of heavy twine that goes from the trellis wire to the ground. The shoot will grow up the twine. Trim off side shoots until the main shoot reaches the wire, which should take until early summer. At that point, snip off the tip of the main shoot to encourage side branches. Pick the strongest side branches growing parallel to the wire and tie them to the wire. As the vine grows, remove any ties that could girdle the vine. By fall, your seedlings will be mature and should start bearing fruit the following year.