From

Location

Message

Date Posted

milford, CT,

In the past I pruned off the tendrils. I was told they become a problem. This year I decided to leave them on...so far they actually seem to be helping the vines by balancing them on either side. Any comments?

6/5/2007 6:20:28 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Good question Milf, one that I was going to post till I saw yours.

I have always cut off the tendrils on my plants (on the advice of a HH) and it is just alot of hard hot work that I was wondering if it was worth while too. My advisor told me that the growth taken from the tendrils would be powered back into the leaves and rest of the plant....makes sense but like I said is really alot of work and I'm intersted to hear other opinions and what everyone else does too....thanks for the post.

6/5/2007 6:44:17 PM

Eugene, OR

I personally always leave them. I live in a windy area and think they help anchor the vines and keep them upright when the wind picks up, especially after they're buried. That's my experience with them anyway! Brian

6/5/2007 8:12:26 PM

No Place Special

I leave them on and have no problems and I agree sometimes the actually help.

6/5/2007 9:21:12 PM

Ohio

Im trying something diffrent this year, cutting the tendrills off the main so the main lays down nice and leaving the tendrils on the secondaries. So far no problems.

Brooks

6/5/2007 9:54:14 PM

milford, CT,

Thanks Guys...I'm going to continue leaving them as long as they are not causing the vine to lie awkward or wrapping around other plant parts. I was figuring that the less I cut near the main vine the less of a chance for disease. We'll see how it goes. Mark

6/5/2007 9:58:55 PM

Rhode Island

cut them all off. anchor the plants vines with sticks, soil, cut up plastic coat hangers. etc.

in a heavy wind storm those tendrils do nothing to hold the vines down plus they do take a bit of growth away from the plants food factory.

6/5/2007 10:32:07 PM

Nauvoo, Alabama

what are tendrils?-----the curly things that lach on to support the vine?

sorry for my ignorance.

6/6/2007 11:32:29 AM

C N Y

yes, Crick, exactly what you said.
and, everything said above about tendrils is all good advice;
i personally see them as case-specific. they get cut off if they are going to be a problem (wrapping around other plant parts, supporting the vines unnecessarily, preventing the vines from being easily and smoothly being buried, etc.)
or, left-on if they are just doing their thing.
additionally, in a pinch, a tendril can come in handy if there's nothing else in-hand to tie a blossom shut, lol.
lastly, the tendrils can be swept-up just like a kickstand
if need be, just before attempting to lay a vine in a trench to bury it. eric g

6/6/2007 6:45:48 PM