I have searched high and low and finally found someone who lives within 100 miles of me, who has muscadine grape vines for sale!

BUT now to choose the variety! I want a very large sweet grape for eating and making jelly, jams and juice.

These are just some that he has for sale: Carlos, Noble, Fry, Magnolia, Higgins,Scuppernong and Sterling.

Do you have any of these and what do you think? Also, how do I root my own from the ones I have, that I do not know the names of?

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), September 01, 2000

Answers

All of the varieties you mentioned are delicious and your pick will depend on individual taste. I have tasted fine wines from all the above. Might I suggest you get a sampling of all to decide for yourself. You might get lucky and achieve your own special hybrid.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 01, 2000.

This may not be the time to root grape cuttings but I'm not positive about that. Personally, I would wait until spring. Then, take cuttings off the growing tips. Mine were about 10" long. Cut just below a leaf node, removing the leaf. Dip cutting in rooting powder and sink in fine vermiculite until roots form. I had to do several before I got 2 to grow well.

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), September 01, 2000.

Debbie, I will try to contact my friend in California that has the vineyard and ask him about root grafts for your area. In the meantime, I will also try to look through my books on wine vinting (the grapes are grown the same for wine or jellies) . Maybe the gentleman with the vineyard that you are checking with could help you with your grafting question, since he is close to your area. Good luck, I'll get back to you with what I can find.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 01, 2000.

A truly great company for grapes and such is Isons...www.isons.com

-- Jason (AJAMA5@netscape.net), September 02, 2000.

The best jelly I ever made was with scoopernogs. It's clear gold jelly with a different taste than the rest of them. Plus it's a better keeper on the vine than most. Much more forgiving of time restraints. I like it most for jelly making. But it has seeds and I think seedless are better for just eating. Plus the skins can be tough.Anyway why not try a few?Good luck with what ever you get.

-- Bonnie (josabo1@juno.com), September 02, 2000.

Debbie, It's very easy to root any grape type vine. Pull a runner to the ground and cover with dirt next year it will have roots. As for the best muscadine I like Higgens here in N.C. It makes jam & jelly. It also makes the best wine I have tasted. Good luck.

-- DON HOWARD (dessertmaker2000@hotmail.com), September 02, 2000.

I got in touch with the fella that has the vineyard. He said grape vines can be propagated as either softwood cuttings early in the active season or as hardwood cuttings in the fall, prior to the dormant season or as hardwood cuttings in the early spring prior to the active season (however results for early spring hardwood cuttings are not as productive). He also said that depending on the main variety you choose, you may have to mix in a few of another variety to provide pollination. It seems some strains of Muscadine can pollinate themselves , while others require pollination from another strain.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 03, 2000.

Hi Jason,

Why does your www.isons.com URL wind up at a page that says:

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If you are receiving this message, your account is now pointed at your new web hosting server....

However, we have just completed receiving all necessary information to make your account active with us. Please check again in 1-2 hours.

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Personally, I don't care much for folks who feed me to predatory net companies. Hopefully, this was some kind of mistake.

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), September 03, 2000.