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Minnesota([email protected])

Do you think the Christmas Tree method holds better promise for a larger fruit? If so, would you recommend pruning off every other vine?
If I'm correct, the flag method results in a plant of half the size of Christmas Tree configuration. If the flag was 10' wide, and 20'long, is this large enough to support a large fruit? I'm thinking of growing one plant of each of these configurations. Any thoughts or additional input is welcome. Please bear with me in these basic questions, as I'm quite new to this. Thanks.

Doug

5/13/2004 9:30:04 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Doug, in our first year with AGs I employed a modified flag pattern in a small garden area and trimmed off every 2nd or 3rd vine and grew in a U shape. Had pretty good success and so did my buddy Steve who used the front and back method of vine maintenance. His vines were much longer while taking up less width in the garden and achieved great results as well. It is your call and depends on extra space you may or may not have.

Glenn

5/14/2004 3:22:07 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

By far the X-mas tree method is used by most growers.

Flag patterns seem to be utilized in smaller gardens.

In my opinion, the jury is still out in regards to removing every other vine.
This allows more air space between the vines and the leaves seem to grow bigger. The question that comes to mind is what is better for the plant? More vines with more leaves or less but, larger leaves.

If the leaf nodes are spaced close together this is a great idea.

5/14/2004 1:43:28 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

i personally dont think it really matters about the shape of your plant..ive tried them all and still cant get a big one...and i know a guy who has grown 700 pounders with no attention to the vine at all...

5/14/2004 7:00:36 PM