From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Rush, NY

This is my FINAL report on First true leaf and Main runner direction. See "Main runner direction" started May 13 for earlier information and Chris Anderson's findings.
My results show you CAN NOT predict First true leaf direction or Main runner direction. I abandoned using the 13 plants that emerged in my cold frame for First true leaf direction as I did not mark the Large Airhole side before breaking off the seed tips. Using a 10X glass I marked the large airhole side on 12 more seeds and planted them flat with the sprout end North and the large airhole East. Ten of these emerged. The seed leaves were all North-South. The first true leaves headed west on 5 plants and east on 5 plants.
On my 10 plants from seed and 3 spares (13 total), I recorded the main runner direction relative to the first true leaf. Splitting the plant area in 2 semicircles, 7 headed opposite the first true leaf and 6 toward the first true leaf. There was a lot of varibility within each semicircle.
Where have your Runners headed relative to the first true leaf?

6/19/2001 10:36:51 AM

Buffalo, NY

Won't the plant try to grow towards the sun? Like SE-S-SW? I transplanted mine with the first true leaf towards the west and the vine at first grew STRAIGHT UP until I traned it to head South.

6/19/2001 11:46:45 AM

South Hill, Virginia

From my experience this year the main vine will always run in the least favorable direction. If you put in a plant three feet from a fence then the main vine will grow towards the fence. Of course training main vines 180 degrees does provide some early season entertainment.

6/19/2001 12:51:54 PM

Rexburg, Idaho

I had four plants this year 3 of the four went opposite the first seed leaf. The other one went exactly opposite of where it was supposed to grow. One grew east, two west and the one went west and I wanted it to grow east.

6/19/2001 6:55:00 PM