Trimming muscadine vines after fruiting?

[frdnicholas]

My muscadines have just put out tiny clusters of fruits. The vines are more than 6 years old, haviing inherited them when we bought the house. Will it harm or slow the fruit if I trim off some of the vines that have no fruit on them and are just growing long and tall? I don't want to give the plant the idea to stop growing, but I'd like to "neaten" it up? I am in Southeast Coastal Georgia.

 

[Meadowlark]

Wow you already have clusters of fruits on your muscadines? Mine have just barely leafed out here.

I don't think you can give muscadines "the idea to stop growing", at least in my experience. I trim them whenever they need it for managing and it does not seem to slow them down one iota.

 

[frdnicholas]

Thank you, I just wanted to be sure. I am very grateful for the fruit. So far this looks to be the best crop in the 6 years we've been living here.

 

[Meadowlark]

What's your favorite use of the crop? Mine would be jelly which is simply unequaled in taste. We also like to drink the juice from the grapes. Very satisfying drink.

 

[DirtMechanic]

I want to horn in here and ask about both trimming and moving 4 vines we have here in Alabama. There are 2 muscadine and 2 scuppernong. It is not the usual time to move one but they do seem aggressive and we have a long growth season ahead. There is just no good way to replace broken or failing posts or trellis wire, plus they need more sun.

 

[frdnicholas]

I like to eat the fruit cold from the refrigerator. That's assuming they even make it into the house!

 

[Meadowlark]

I want to horn in here and ask about both trimming and moving 4 vines we have here in Alabama. ...

They are tough and resilient. If you trim them back, take a large root ball, and keep them well watered in the new location all summer, I think there is a good chance they will make it...but the sooner the better. One thing for sure unless they have full sun, they won't produce fruit.