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I may have a problem. I think I planted my 707 Toftness backwards. Today being a fairly warm & sunny day for a change, I left the mini-greenhouses open all day. The wind blew the 707 over in the opposite direction I had intended for it to vine. I'm thinking of slipping a spade under the plant & cocking it back down with my foot a little to alter it's angle in the hopes of forcing the direction change. Or would it be better to do this with sticks?
In the mean while, I mounded up some additional soil to prevent a broken stem. Here's the pic I posted on our diary.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=9133

Any ideas would be appreciated.
Steve

5/29/2003 9:35:06 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

turn the vine slowly with some little support sticks, when it starts running. I would not take a spade to the mound. You will do more harm than good. Shannon " which ever way I want them to go they go the opposite"

5/29/2003 9:41:07 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I go with shannon on that...sticks and thick plastic hangers cut and use the U ends to tack the tip around till you got it the way you want. Just lost a plant can't believe how extensive the roots system was already.

5/29/2003 11:01:15 PM

Kansas

Forget the spade Steve, you'll end up damaging the roots. Stick with the "sticks".

Shawn

5/29/2003 11:12:00 PM

Montoursville, PA

Milk shake cups and what has been mentioned will hold it up and help you redirect any vine including the pumpkin. Easy on the redirecting. Do a little per day as it grows. They are quite ease to stress and even break.

5/30/2003 12:30:59 AM

Indiana

I like to mound a bit of dirt on the side every day to kinda try and push it slowly the way I want it to go. That combined with a few directional stakes to guide her down slow. So far so good not had to do it this year.

Tom Beachy

5/30/2003 1:01:28 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

If you can wait to do the 'coaching' during the heat of the day it will be much easier on the plant.

If you try this in the a.m. when it is still cold, the plant is tight and more likely to snap.

I like Tom's suggestion also.

5/30/2003 1:52:34 AM

Utah ([email protected])

I tried slightly moving my 511 Wolf plant last year. I never did grow again. It didn't die, it just didn't grow. It just sat there for a month before I culled it.

That was just shortly (within a week) of putting it in the ground.

I'd definately go with the redirection. If the wind fliped it over in the wrong direction, then redirecting in the heat of the day shouldn't be a problem.

If you actually planted it backwards, then it may take more time redirecting.

That's my read on it. Good luck!
-Brent W.

Take it slow! Good Luck!
-Brent W.

5/30/2003 2:26:00 AM

[email protected]

During the warmest part of the day makes a lot of sense. I noticed while mounding soil on the *wrong* side that it was surprisingly flexible. Yet once all signs of midday wilt were gone, I doubt I'd have gotten away with it.

Thanks to everyone. All very good points.

Train at midday - or leave the hut on longer than usual.
Soil for now. Sticks & plastic hoops when she's tall enough.

Steve
No spade!

5/30/2003 5:25:26 AM

syracuse, ny

ps-be careful not to twist the main stem even a little too much. you wanna put a nice dowel or 2 in the ground like 1/2 way
between the main stem and the tip of the vine, and gently, a little every day, bend around the dowel(s), as it will take the twisting force off of the main stem....
that is, if you now or in the future need to do what i'm thinkin'. one more thing to anyone readin' this---
if you ever have to insert a stake or dowel into the ground
while it is up against any part of the plant, try to pound it in rather than push, as last year i made the mi(stake)
of pushing, and apparently was unaware of the angular forces i was applying! got it all on tape.....snap! went the main vine in question. a few days later, though, it recovered! AG----true survivor! 'pal

5/30/2003 6:26:28 PM

North Ga

I go with TomMan. I use dirt to direct my plants. Burying vines at the same time to secure them.

5/30/2003 7:40:07 PM