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PA

Can anybody tell me how much soil to put over the vine, how close to the base of the plant do you start, and when you should start? Does everybody do this?
Thanks,
Amy

5/30/2000 8:09:08 PM

Amy,
Most competitive growers cover the vines. I like to cover as deeply as I can. I have dug a trench in front of the vine tip about 3-4 inches deep and train the vine to follow that trench then back fill with the soil that has been removed for the trench and then even added more on top of that. Make sure to keep this soil moist to encourage the root to form and go down from the leaf axel. I like to start covering at when the vine is 4-6 feet long. but ya have to wait for your vine to lay down on it's own before you do it. Don't force the vine down. It might snap or crack on ya! Been there done that too! Hurt me more than it did the plant!
The covering of the vines also helps anchor the plant so less chance of winds blowing the vines all over the place.
Good Luck...Gophergirl

5/30/2000 9:59:13 PM

Commack, NY

amy,
lots of people bury there entire vines, while others just bury the junctions of where there is a leaf, thats the only place where a tap root is going to grow anyway. personally, i really dont' bury vines, but i water ALOT, and i'm just afraid of rotting the vines. i've heard stories of how that happens sometimes. but then again, i've also heard stories where people burried the vines and had no problems at all. i'm actually going to try and cover the leaf nodes this year and see what happens. to keep the vines anchored, i cut plastic hangers and make "U's" out of them, then i put that over the vine and into the ground. it works great, but remember, that the vine will thicken, so you're going to want to move that hanger a little or your going to have a vine that looks like a fat finger with a tight ring on it! good luck! FS

5/31/2000 9:16:24 AM

Scott and Amy,
Never had a problem with a rotten vine here. The vines just get hard casing like on the outside when I examine them. Just lots more roots at the junctions( leaf axils). roots from the top and bottom of the vines. Just a idea that actually happened to a buddy of mine... if you a were to loose your main stump for what ever reason you could still nourish a fruit that was distal to the stump if a root system was well developed on the main vine going all the way down. Remember reading about the "Stumpless Wonder"?
In my neck of the woods I have had gophers/rabbit nibble on vines that were left uncovered. Last year a hole was nibble on the main vain about 4ft from the stump and went into the interior of the vine. Not the leaves ( the deer eat those) If the vine is out of site and under soil the rodents don't eat on them. blood meal helped around the plant to keep them at bay..but very expensive and had to reapply after irrigation or rain.
Now my 8 ft high( 6 strands)electric fence keeps the deer out. It's the Pumpkin Prison. Only think missing is razor wire at the top. it works good. last year no deer in the patch .but they were eating the heck out of my husband's garden.
Taking pumpkin growing very seriously here and having a blast too! Gophergirl

5/31/2000 1:48:20 PM

Commack, NY

ahhh, yes the stumpless wonder, i remember it vividly, good old dan carlson. i never actually had a problem with rot myself, i've always just been afraid because someone said it happened to them. never even considered gopher's or rabbits, good call. i dont' have to deal with them. just the occasional oppussum trying to get at the fruit. didnt' know what was doign it these past couple of years, till my dog got ahold of one. not too thrilled about it either. got anything that deters those guys? i've heard that bars of ivory soap with holes drilled in them hung around the patch deters deer, but i dont' know if it works or not.
how are things going with that new tractor of yours? i loved dan's pic! that was too funny!
scott

5/31/2000 1:54:31 PM

Scott,
Don't have any experience with oppussum? do they eat pumpkin plants too? Nothing works here on the deer except bullets or electric fence. Tried soap, hair, and urine. Nothing worked. Oh the Bota is the best! Love it! We are farmers now! Oh Carlson MurDanDo all Machine. what a riot!
For anyone that hasn't seen it. go here!
http://www.olywa.net/s&mcramer/index.html
gophergirl

6/1/2000 3:10:53 PM

Commack, NY

g-g,
those little b's like to actually go after the pumpkin itself. had no idea what it was for a long time, maybe a trap might work.
have fun on the bota, i'm gonna get me a murdando all!!
good growing,
scott

6/1/2000 3:19:53 PM