How to Fertilize Female Muscadines

Muscadines are desirable grapes for many home growers because they are reliable producers once established. Most of the popular muscadines are all-female varieties that require a male pollinator, but that doesn't mean that the male plant needs less care than the females. All sexes of muscadines will benefit from a comprehensive fertilization program that starts in their first year and continues throughout their lives. Beyond a balanced fertilizer and ammonium nitrate, muscadines also benefit from applications of magnesium and boron in some areas.

10-10-10 fertilizer
Ammonium nitrate
Broadcast spreader

Instructions

- 1
  Use a broadcast spreader to apply 1 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer in a 2-foot circle around each vine after planting your muscadines. Spread 2 ounces per plant of ammonium nitrate in both late May and early July in the same manner.
- 2
  Broadcast 2 cups of 10-10-10 fertilizer early in the second growing season in a 4-foot circle around the muscadine vines. Spread 4 ounces per plant of ammonium nitrate to the same area in late May and early July.
- 3
  Apply 8 cups or 2 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per vine during March of the third year. Broadcast the fertilizer in a 6-foot circle. Apply an additional pound in May.
- 4
  Broadcast 3 to 5 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer in a 6-foot circle during the month of March for the remainder of each vine's productive lifetime. Apply a 1/2-pound of ammonium nitrate to each plant around the first of June. Begin submitting soil samples to your university extension every third year to ensure the soil's pH has not changed significantly.

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