Nobel muscadine picking day has arrived!
We’ve made it to picking day! The electric fence modifications worked and kept the raccoons out.
Wild muscadines have high acid. The Nobel is a domesticated variant with less acid, but really depends on soil conditions, and when you pick. I held off picking until conditions were right. 1) some of the grapes started looking like raisins and the berries skin starting to look dull and soft. 2) the seeds have darkened. 3) taste is very sweet. 4) sugar level is 15 or greater brix. I brought my two grape testers with me. #1Dakota my 8yr old son and #2 refractometer. Here’s Koda doing his taste test.
Noble muscadine has a nice cluster not individual berries like other types of muscadine vines. These look really good this year.
I taught Koda how to use the refractometer to test the sugar level. He checked several berries on various clusters. The brix was 15-17. We were only able to pick 65lbs this year. Not bad on these third year vines and after all the fruit the raccoons took. Next year should be a much better year.
Installed an Electric Fence and Bird Netting
In a last ditch attempt to save some grapes this year, I’ve installed a solar powered electric fence, bird netting and some owls. If the birds and/or raccoons still take the muscadines, I don’t know what else to do. The fence charger is a bit overkill, granted, but if a raccoon touches the fence I want them to feel it :-0. This one can protect the vineyard, orchard, garden and about another 23+ miles of fence!
Two strings of wire. One at 5-6inches above ground and the other at 12inches. I could put another at 18-20 if they are jumping over. I put out a couple of deer infrared cameras as well with hopes I catch some of the action!
I also used some old conduit to keep the netting off the muscadines.
And the last attempt to keep the birds at bay. 3 owls placed in various locations.
Only time will tell if any of this works!
Aerial view of vineyard taken with quadcopter
Blanc Du Bios far left. Lomanto and Black Spanish second from left. Nobel, Black Beauty, Darlene and Ison’s Muscadine next three rows. Had some muscadine die off this year. All but two are growing back.
Took a walk to clear my head then google some help!
I’m sure some of the grapes may have been taken by birds, but after looking around on the ground I see evidence of who took the majority of the grapes. Raccoons! All I did by putting on the netting, was give them a great way to climb up the vines (nets) and reach through to grab the grapes. Now that all the grapes are gone, the only thing left to protect are the muscadines. They are just beginning veraison. Looks like I need to come up with a way to protect against them. Quick searches show electric fences are a good deterrent. Here are some pics of the Muscadine that I plan to protect!
These are Black Beauty muscadine.
Nobel muscadine below.
Muscadines are starting to fill out
Nobel Muscadine vines are finished blooming and starting to grow nicely.
Pruning of the Vines
A little later than I had planned, but I finally pruned the older vines this weekend. Decided to go with top cordon spur pruning system for all the vines. I could get a little more production from the black spanish if I used a cane pruning system, but it’s a lot more maintenance. Both systems are used for these vine types.
Pruned Black Spanish grapevines above
Pruned Noble Muscadine vines above
Before and After
Lasterday Wines 
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