How to Plant Scuppernong Seed

Test your soil to determine its pH level. Scuppernong does best when soil pH is between 5.5 and 6.5. Purchase a home soil test kit from a garden supply store, or contact your local county cooperative extension office to inquire about soil testing. County extension offices may charge a small fee, and will offer more thorough results.

Amend your soil per the results of the soil test. Add agricultural lime to increase the pH level of your soil. Add agricultural sulfur to decrease the pH. Your county extension office can give you the best advice on applying it to soil in your locality, whether you utilized their testing facilities or not.

Dig to a depth of 2 to 3 feet in the area where you will be planting the grapes. Make sure this area gets full sun. Mix in compost in a 1-to-1 ratio with the soil. Make sure the soil and compost are thoroughly combined.

Sow scuppernong seeds to a depth of 1/4 inch beneath the surface of the soil when all danger of frost has passed. Scuppernong is fairly hardy once it has established itself, but needs temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate and begin growing from seed.

Apply a good all-purpose fertilizer once the first true leaves (leaves that do not have the seed case attached) have sprouted. Continue applying fertilizer throughout the season as the manufacturer directs.

Lash the growing grapevines to a trellis as they grow. They will want to grab hold of the trellis on their own, but you can get them started by using a little strip of used pantyhose to tie them. Used pantyhose is ideal for tying tender vines because it is strong, but will not bruise or cut the vines in any way.

Prune your growing scuppernong as necessary to ensure good growth. Prune smaller suckers as they start to sprout off the main vine. Ideally, prune them before they reach longer than 2 inches, so that the plant does not expend too much energy growing something you are going to prune.