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milford, CT,

All season I have been having trouble with superficial cracks on my main vines. I just read a post from another grower and he mentioned that he prunes secondaries an inch away from the main. It then hit me why I was getting these cracks at the node junctions. I have been trimming secondaries flush with the main. All is well with 2 of my plants. The main on the 1230 Daletas broke off due to one of these cracks. Next year I wouldn't want to play doctor again unless I have to. Is the proper technique to leave an inch when pruning to accomodate for the end cracking that occurs on pruned tips?

7/1/2005 10:04:22 PM

Rhode Island

IT IS OUR EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN VINES WONT LAY DOWN AND ARE STIFF AND "ERECTIONING" (LOL) AT THE VINE ENDS ITS DUE TO EXCESS NITROGEN IN THE SOIL
SOMETIMES IF YOU USE TO MUCH WATER SOLUABLE FERTILIZERS THIS WILL HAPPEN
THEN THE LAST FT OR TWO OF THE VINE IS DIFFICULT TO BURY AND WANTS TO SNAP BECAUSE OF THE STIFFNESS

DICK

7/2/2005 6:04:37 AM

milford, CT,

Thanks Dick! This year I amended the soil heavily after doing a soil test. I added a lot of compost,manure, micronutrients and calcium during the off season. I am experiencing the skyscraper syndrome the last 6 ft on 2 of my plants. I haven't added any water soluble but have been side dressing with 20-20-20 every 10 days. All the mains should be at the point of termination within a week and I have pumpkins on all the mains at 10 - 15 ft so even if I run into more trouble I already have pumpkins set.

7/2/2005 9:35:41 AM

[email protected]

Yikes Mark! 20-20-20 is water soluble. Stop using it until after fruit set is insured.

7/2/2005 11:04:22 AM

milford, CT,

I thought Dick was talking about Miracle Gro type fertilizers. Anyway looking back at what I've added to the patch, I believe I over estimated the every 10 days.
Since May 15 I've only fertilized 2 times and very lightly.
But thanks Steve for bringing up the point about setting fruit and ferilizing. I wasn't aware that we were supposed to halt adding fertilizers during fruit set.

7/2/2005 9:33:30 PM