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Southern Ohio

Hi. this is my first year to try to grow giant pumpkins. the plants are looking good, but it seems as though i should be covering the stumps and the vines with dirt. is this correct, and if it is then how much dirt should i use? can i then cover them buried vines and stump with the straw much that i use in the garden. the plants look good now and i don't want to do anything wrong that would hurt 'em. will they be more prone to get disease/fungus/pests if i do this? i spray 'em every week with daconil. thank you so much for helping a newbie.

6/29/2001 11:46:10 PM

Western Pa.

Cutis,

Wherever you have a leaf on your plant, the vine will send out "tap roots" from top and bottom. By covering the vines with soil, the plant can take up water and nutrients all over the area of the plant, rather than just at the stump. Also the dreaded Squash Vine borer lays it's eggs on the leaves, and when hatched, looks for a vine to "enter and destroy". By covering vines, this "discourages" them. By covering the vines, it also gives added protection to your plant in "high winds". I use grass clippings for mulch after I cover vines to cut down on weeds. As long as you have good drainage, and the vines aren't constantly laying in water, covering vines is the way to go.

Good luck!

kilr

6/30/2001 7:32:16 AM