Growing Muscadine grapes in MA?

14 years ago

Has anyone had any luck or failures trying to grow Muscadine grapes in MA? From what I've read, MA is on the northern edge of the zones in which you can grow these grapes. Wondering if anyone in MA has tried to grow these grapes.

I was thinking about ordering them online from Willis Orchard.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

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Comments (6)

Scott F Smith
14 years ago
Unless you are on Cape Cod I think all of MA is in zone 6 or less which is too cold. Don't trust the Willis Orchard info, they put things a zone or more too low in their listings. I am in zone 6/7 and am borderline for muscadines - most winters they are OK but sometimes I got major dieback.

Scott
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john_in_sc
14 years ago
Contact the folks at Isons -- They have been heavily involved with Muscadine breeding for the past 50-60 years...

They could probably tell you whether you would expect to see success that far north... They claim Zones 7-10 on their website.

If it was me.. I would plant out Concord grapes and never look back...

Thanks

John
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kiwinut
14 years ago
A few varieties would be hardy for you, but your growing season is way too short and they really like it hot, so no way you would get ripe fruit unless you grow them in a greenhouse.
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boizeau
14 years ago
I have a couple of Muscadines in my garden in Western WA, but you have to really do a lot of site modification and it will take you a great deal of effort to get them even rare ripe. Still, it can be done in a near greenhouse situation where you are sheltered and against a south facing wall. Otherwise, I'd grow a French hybrid or one of the many fine Geneva hybrid table grapes.
If you do go for Muscadines, get the hardiest and earliest ones you can find.
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gonebananas_gw
14 years ago
You can grow grapes, like figs, in some zones too cold if you shallowly bury the lowered plant in a trench for winter. It takes some planning and care in growth form, and moderate effort. As another poster said, I'd be more concerned about enough heat to ripen and make it worthwhile. But heck, I'd try a vine. At least one muscadine is said I believe not to need as much hot weather.
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fireant156
13 years ago
Governmental agents have leaked a report of a widespread, ongoing investigation of Paradise Palm Co. Nursery and Willis Orchard Nursery, and that the owner of Willis Orchards has panicked to rush to sell out his company and to flee the United States. This result of this online information has been published at (www.buybusiness.com/Businesses/13803/Multi-Million-Dollar-Mail-Order-Nursery-for-Sale-Top-Nationally-Recognized-Company)

Authorities claim that Paradise Palm Co. was formally a website operated under the Internet address, www.paradisepalmco.com owned by Jason Willis, who also owns www.willisorchards.com, and the closed down company, Paradise Palm Co. has been forced off the INTERNET due to illegal activities. Rumors fly, that the U.S.D.A, recently fined Willis Orchard Co. for illegally shipping infected citrus into Texas and other States. Jason Willis was forced to destroy all his on site diseased citrus trees and then to "Cease and Desist" the selling of citrus on the www.willisorchards.com website.

A garden watchdog website, is reporting that Willis Orchard Nursery has compiled more negative complaints that positives, and the B.B.B. after three years is still showing an 'F' rating for www.willisorchards.com, a rating that is so bad. that you cannot even bring up the name Willis Orchards unless you type in the now defunct company, Paradise Palm Co in Moultrie, Georgia.

It is unclear. whether or not, the greatly indebted and empty pockets of former suppliers of Willis Orchards will seek a Court intervention to block the sale of Willis Orchards, before the owner, Jason Willis, has a chance to flee the United States and pursue his other interests in a foreign county.

Website investigators have advised present and past customers of Willis Orchards and Paradise Palm Co. to complain to the following agencies, if they have any complaints against the Willis Orchards complex, or if the customers are owed free replacements resulting from dead or infected plants.

Tommy Irvin Georgia State Agriculture Commissioner:
Email- tommy.irvin@agr.georgia.gov
Phone- 1-800-282-5852

Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs:
Office of the Attorney General of Georgia
Thurbert E. Baker, Attorney General
40 Capitol Square, SW
Atlanta, GA 30334
Call 404-651-8600 or Toll Free 1-800-869-1123
Website: http://consumer.georgia.gov/00/channel_title/0,2094,5426814_39102589,00.html

Georgia BBB:
500 12th Street
Columbus GA 31901
Phone- (706)324-0712
Email- info@columbus-ga.bbb.org
Website- http://columbusga.bbb.org

For protection you can file charge backs with your credit card company also.
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