Q. I live in north Alabama and purchased a house in March that has an existing small muscadine and scupadine orchard that is irrigated. 5 rows about 35-40 feet each in length. I was told last year they harvested over 600 lbs. of muscadines. They produced real well this year, however, I am not familiar with the best way to care for them and want to make sure they continue to produce. When and what do I need to fertilize with? How often and how much do I need to water? Do I need to spray pesticide, insecticides, etc.? I watched your video on pruning and it seems to be very similar to pruning roses (of which I am very familiar). In North Alabama would January or February be the best time to prune and can you prune to much? It does not appear to me that they have been pruned in quiet sometime.
Also have a row of tame blackberries. I have the same questions about them.
A. Before fertilizing, take a soil sample to your nearby Cooperative Extension office for analysis. Follow the recommendations. Fertilize only as needed. 10-10-10 is often prescribed. The vines do not need to grow so long as to grow along the ground. Vines 3' to 4' are long enough. Muscadine roots grow close to the soil surface and run a great distance, so broadcast the fertilizer over the area. (Just in case you ever get the notion to roto-till or disc the space between your rows, don't do it.)
Muscadines are drought-tolerant, so irrigation of mature vines is only necessary during extreme drought. Newly planted vines can be irrigated until established. A couple inches of water per week should be sufficient.
Pruning should be done annually without fail. You should be able to begin pruning soon after Thanksgiving. Pruning too much will only reduce the size of your crop; it won't kill the plant. If they haven't been pruned in a long time, you have a lot of work to do. My videos should be instructional in that regard.
Blackberry culture is similar. Have the soil sampled. Fertilize as prescribed. Irrigate a couple of inches per week during dry weather. Prune out old canes annually. Keep weeds out of the rows using a pre-emergent. Post-emergents can damage the canes.
