How to Grow Muscadine Grapes on a Fence

The juicy round muscadine grape is one of the few varieties of grapes that grow well in warmer climates. This prolific producer often yields over four times the amount of grapes as the average bunching grape. To keep the weight of the fruit from damaging the vines, muscadine needs sturdy support. Although a trellis is the ideal type of grapevine support, a chain-link or lattice fence can also be put into service if necessary. The first year after planting will be spent growing and training the vines on the fence. Vine growth continues in the second year, but your muscadine grapes may yield a light crop. By the third year, you vines will be well established and producing a full crop of juicy grapes.

String or paper-covered wire ties
Pruners

Instructions

- 1
  Plant one muscadine grape vine every 10 feet along the fence line.
- 2
  Choose a single, strong shoot to grow upward along the fence. Secure the shoot to the fence carefully with paper-covered wire or string. The University of Florida Extension recommends pruning off side shoots as they emerge but not removing the leaves growing directly on the trunk as the vine climbs the fence.
- 3
  Prune the tip of the shoot when it reaches about 5 or 6 feet high to facilitate the growth of two side branches. These shoots will become the fruit-bearing vines, or cordons, and the upward-growing shoot will become the trunk.
- 4
  Train the two new shoots to grow horizontally across the fence at about 5 or 6 feet above the ground by securing the vines to the fence gently with string or paper-covered wire ties. The vines can also be woven in and out of the fence mesh horizontally across the fence.

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