How to Graft Muscadine Grapes

Muscadine grape rootstock is often grafted to other varieties of domesticated grapes. In most cases, this is done to create new varieties or to strengthen existing ones, making the grapes less susceptible to disease. Grafting is a process of taking two plants and fusing the two into a single plant. Muscadine grape stock is the most common variety of grape that is grafted for wine, jelly and juice grapes.

Muscadine grape rootstock
Chosen grape variety stem
Sharp knife
Grafting wax
Plant tape
Containers
Potting soil

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the main trunk of the muscadine grape rootstock evenly across the top.
- 2
  Slice a center straight cut into the muscadine stock, cutting down approximately 2 inches.
- 3
  Remove the outside woody layers of the chosen variety stem.
- 4
  Whittle the new variety into a 1 1/2-inch long flat edge, taking equal amounts from both sides of the stem.
- 5
  Pry the muscadine grape rootstock apart where you made the center cut.
- 6
  Force the flat edge of the new variety into the muscadine rootstock cut.
- 7
  Apply grafting wax around the joint where the two varieties come together in the rootstock.
- 8
  Wrap the joint with plant tape after the wax has dried to further protect the graft.
- 9
  Plant the grafted rootstock in containers containing a good quality potting soil. Allow the grafted plants several weeks of recovery time before transplanting to their regular garden space.

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