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Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Just wondering how many growers prune tendrils? I've never done it in the past, even when burying vines, but I've heard some mention of it in earlier threads.
To prune or not to prune?

Frank

6/15/2004 6:22:03 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

I prune all of them! I don't like them to wire around other leaves and it also makes it easier to bury the vines.
Sometimes they will even prevent the vine from laying down nicely if they grow directly under the vine.
Martin

6/15/2004 6:32:24 PM

Arizona

don't they become roots when they dig into the soil?

Jeff

6/15/2004 6:39:43 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

Not the tendrils! The root will come out directly from the vine!
At each leaf junction there is the potential for the growth of a leaf, a secondary vine, either a female or a male flower, a tendril and two roots (one root on top of the vine and one below it).
But the roots have nothing to do with the tendrils....

6/15/2004 6:58:52 PM

Herndon, VA

I prune them only when they get in the way. Sometimes I think they actually help to keep the vine upright (I've had vines "roll over" during bad winds). But quite often they come out pointing straight down, and those I prune.

As Martin said, the roots come from the vine and not the tendrils.

6/15/2004 10:05:52 PM

I am definitely going to prune them next year until the vine lays down and gets growing across the ground. This year the little buggers interfered a lot with me trying to lay down my vines. Keep in mind that their original purpose in nature is to secure the vine. They don't care if they secure it where you want it to go or not; they'll twist around anything, as well as hold the vine off the ground when you are trying to get it on the ground.

Martin's list is complete and correct....roots are different from tendrils.

6/16/2004 1:09:37 AM