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Santa Rosa, CA.

My 500 Northrup developed a nasty flat main vine (Picture should be up in my diary soon). What problems can I expect as far as growing a pumpkin on it. It's a very aggressive plant and I had dreams of a new state record on it....(Did I say that out loud?). I guess my other option would be to train a secondary vine into a new main. Anyone with experience growing on a flat vine?

6/12/2007 5:55:31 PM

Minnesota

Hey patch, at this stage of the game you might be better off setting a fruit on the main. When your plant start setting females you will probably get two at a time. The female on top of the vine will open first and the bottom female will open second day. Select the fruit on top and pinch the one on the bottom. Heres the trick to keep the fruit from aborting. Let the main vine continue to grow until you have at least 15 days on the fruit then cut the whole tip of the main off and train a new secondary as a leader. Try to train the secondary that is on the opposite side of the plant as the fruit then you will know that your on the right plant and the fruit wont abort. Good Luck.

Dean

6/12/2007 10:03:47 PM

[email protected]

There have been a LOT of 1000+ pounders grown on flat vines. Often the flat vine will split into two by itself in which case remove one & grow on the other. You might need to split a flat vine with a sharp knife - this requires good hand/eye coordination but it can work very well.

6/12/2007 11:33:00 PM

Santa Rosa, CA.

Here is a link to the pic. of my main vine. http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=65574
Thanks for the advice Dean and Steve. I like both your ideas. Without ever seeing it done I'm afraid to try and split the vine into two. Hard to see what's what and where to cut. I think I'll try Dean's idea if the vine doesn't correct itself come pollination time.

6/14/2007 12:32:37 AM

Eugene,OR

Patchy: You might think about growing out your last secondary that is on the normal part of the plant and training it as a new main. It might actually grow out faster than the flat main that you currently have. Some times big, flat mains progress at a very slow pace. If you decide to do this have me come over and I'll do the dirty work of terminating your main for you. I'll bring along some malt liquor so you don't notice the pain quite so much.

6/14/2007 1:39:50 AM

Eugene,OR

You also might consided growing about six really nice "porch sitters" (or sellers) on this plant. They'll be pretty and you can focus your energy on your plants that are doing great.

6/14/2007 1:43:15 AM

Eugene,OR

consider, not consided...

6/14/2007 1:43:54 AM