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We often debate the length of scondary vines. We also debate removing every other secondary.

We have room to let secondaries grow out to 11'-12' in the big section only. If we remove every other one, it will be in this area only. So a new question begs attention.

How many secondary vines do we want if they get terminated at 11 or 12 feet?

TIA

Steve

4/12/2004 9:11:25 AM

Knopp, Germany

Steve,

i think the real question is related to air circulation, and being able to maintain the secondaries from growing tertiaries and other sinks. alexsdad(i think it was chuck) once posted that perhaps we should only cut the leaves off every other secondary and let the vine continue to root. Still provides for air circulation and at the same time puts root down. course, i am a newbie, so let the ball roll. great question!

4/12/2004 12:01:59 PM

Puyallup, WA

Not only is air circulation important, getting access to the main vine to keep the area weed free. In two weeks, my weeds will be at 2 ft.!!!

4/12/2004 2:50:26 PM

C N Y

hmmmm...interesting...let the vines remain, but remove the leaves to allow circulation, but keep the roots...hmmmm....

4/12/2004 6:27:02 PM

Norton, MA

But if you bury the leafless ones you'll end up forgetting (or not knowing) where they are. Alex.

4/12/2004 6:45:57 PM

Key West, FL

Why do you need to know where they are? Anyway, the idea is not to remove all the leaves from one vine but to remove everyother leaf from every vine.

4/12/2004 7:23:43 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

I've been pruning every other secondary and find that the remaining leaves get larger to fill any voids from less competition. I squeeze 2 plants into 1200 sq ft, and one year grew the secondaries up tomatoe stakes for more leaf exposure. 1st good wind eliminated any benefit they may have provided. I'd say you want as many secondaries as you have space...but who knows?

4/12/2004 7:59:39 PM

canal winchester ohio

I like the theory of removing every other leaf. From a leaf & root ratio it makes a lot of sense.
ex.(1) Prune every other vine, result- 12 secondaries setting roots, 500 leaves.
(2) Prune every other leaf leaving all secondaries intact-- 24 secondaries setting roots, 500 leaves.
I like option 2...........Paul

4/12/2004 8:14:18 PM

Key West, FL

I'm thinking about trying it on one of my plants this year, you should too Paul, lets get some people to test this.

4/12/2004 8:27:22 PM

Indiana

I agree with pumpkinpal2 Hmmm
Steve

4/12/2004 8:35:26 PM

canal winchester ohio

I've been planning on doing it for the last few months Ben, it couldn't hurt.

4/12/2004 9:00:08 PM

Long Island,New York

At what point do we wound the plants to the point of a problem? Every other leaf in a 15 foot vine is like 8 wounds....a single cut of a side vine is one wound. When is there too much repairing for the plant? Too many sites for invasion by pathogens?......

4/12/2004 9:28:49 PM

Key West, FL

I cut off every tendrill. I let the wounds dry before they are burried. I don't know if there is such a thing G? Guess we'll find out.

4/12/2004 9:42:03 PM

canal winchester ohio

That is a good point G, but if we cut the leaf at a very early stage of growth wouldn't it be similar to cutting tendrills ? Making the cut while the leaf is " rubbery" not when it's forming the firm stalk. We pinch off hundreds of tendrills during the season with no ill-effects.

4/12/2004 10:26:04 PM

Montoursville, PA

Every time you wack a chunk off the plant thinks I am dieing quick support my reproduction capacity...which just happens to be one fruit if we have planned right. There surely must be some limits but reasonable removal of competition would seem like good management.

Sharp and squeeky clean cutting instruments are indeed worthy of your attention too. Sharp clean cuts heal faster than ragged tears.

4/12/2004 10:27:27 PM

Deer Park WA

I prune my plants in the classic Christmas tree style with modest alterations for indivudal environments, Disposition of the plant (big leafs, small leafs, sprawling , or bushy), balanced with my ideas on access, ventilation , irrigation etc. In general, I listen to the plant as it unfolds.

4/13/2004 3:08:56 AM

Wichita, KS

If you are worried about loosing the place you burried the vine, simply cut off the leaf and leave the stem sticking out of the ground.

It makes sense to keep track of the vine. You don't want to step on it.

Toby

4/13/2004 3:36:32 AM

Norton, MA

But then, for me atleast, EVERY bug in the patch crawls directly down the leafstalk into the plant. Alex.

4/13/2004 5:27:02 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I did try this in an extremely small patch where i Had to wrap the main back onto its secondaries. I buried the secondaries down about 12 inches allowing the main to re root over the top...unfortunately it was in a damaged fusaria bound patch and I showed no evidence of the first row of roots at years end. Chuck

4/13/2004 7:49:41 PM

C N Y

this has all been very interesting and humorous yet
quite informative--you have covered every possibility.
docgipe's latest COMPLETELY cracked me up, and yet has
enormous common sense throughout.as well as everyone else's.

4/13/2004 7:54:42 PM