From

Location

Message

Date Posted

formerly RGG

I was watering this afternoon and while I was sprinkling my 211 Leonard for third time today;the small force of the water coming out of the sprinkler snapped the main. My heart sank as this is one of my 12 main plants (the third one to break a main)and one of my favorite plants. I think it has great genetics and is one of my youngest and fastest growing plants. Anyway I took a close look at it. It was about 80 or 90 percent broken off and was pretty much "hanging by a thread" so to speak. I started to finish pulling it off and then decided to prop it up and let it die that way (or not). So I propped it onto a piece of plastic coat hanger and went back inside the house. I came back out around 7:30 and when I checked the plant out the mostly severed main wasn't wilted.If I lose this main it will cost the plant about a week in development. If the wind blows it off the hanger tonight it will die & then I have no question. However if it stays stable and begins to heal this large wound I will wonder if I have done the right thing.I believe if it heals it will be OK and be able to support a giant melon. Am I right? Has this ever happened to you? What would you do or what did you do in this circumstance?

5/31/2011 9:39:05 PM

South East

Tina just pulled that same thing on me Dennis...I,d just grow stuff off the side vines. Our biggest melon sofar was on a side vine.

5/31/2011 10:34:47 PM

sevierville, Tn

Cut it, grow off a finger vine if you like the plant. You will never know the difference in a few weeks.

5/31/2011 11:41:08 PM

Muddy Waters

I hope your not watering the stump or vines?Keep it dry per HH,just flood the ground,once plant is big & beefy it will take more abuse!

6/1/2011 6:04:59 AM

Rome Ga

Sorry to hear that TD. Seems like i not the only one having bad luck this year. You can grow it off the finger and should be fine

6/1/2011 11:26:13 AM

formerly RGG

Beeman,I am behind with this plant. It is already June. I will roll the dice and let the broken main grow. If that doesn't work out for some reason I will let a melon grow from the second main.In the flag pattern I am growing you allow a main off the stump in opposite directions so there are two of them.Anyway, I want to see how this will heal & grow. Life never ceases to surprise me so who knows.That broken main could go on to grow a nice melon.It's looking like a badly set broken bone right now as the newly broken part is growing at a bit of an angle to the unbroken part.

6/1/2011 11:39:53 AM

formerly RGG

HH, I have never shied away from watering my stumps. And I like my water to sprinkle all over the leaves every time I water as this helps to feed the plants and helps to keep them clean. As for abuse, well these plants have already received more than their share but I don't consider watering my plants in the manner I have always done to be abuse.Thanks for the tips though.

6/1/2011 11:45:45 AM

Carrollton, Ga.

I would be afraid even if it healed it would not transport water and nutrients to the melon as good as a vine that had never been damaged.
Doug
Jn.3:16

6/1/2011 8:33:25 PM

Muddy Waters

TD the storms abuse is what Im talking about,We all do what we like there our plants,Ive killed a few myself,but wetting the leaves 3 times a day will surely shorten there life span,Just trying to help you out!!

6/1/2011 9:02:36 PM

Muddy Waters

HH= heavy hitters NOT Me!!!lol

6/1/2011 9:04:03 PM

formerly RGG

OK Mark, how about FHH for future heavy hitter. I still think I am going to take a chance on this healing vine.Often breaks grow back stronger than the original. I just can't see the wind being a problem that would affect the repaired break in a bad way and not the rest of the plant.

6/1/2011 9:26:50 PM

formerly RGG

Doug, the vine never wilted in the least. I am sure it has reestablished or replaced any broken transport mechanisms.I just can't see that becoming a problem. My 191 Holloway broke at the stump several days back and it is growing better than it ever has right now.

6/1/2011 9:30:37 PM

Watervalley Ms

Hey TD if that was my plant i think i would set a melon inside the break from the stump to the break not from the break to the tip just in case. Good luck with the plant. THanks Jerry

6/1/2011 9:43:43 PM

formerly RGG

Thanks Jerry, sounds good but that's not possible. It's just a small plant and the break is close to the stump. Also no blooms yet. What I will be able to do is set a melon on the second main I will be growing in the opposite direction.

6/1/2011 10:07:57 PM

Muddy Waters

Hey TD Go for it! I hindered plant might actually be a blessing in disguise!!Who are we to know what the furture holds for anything or any body!!

6/2/2011 3:58:54 PM

formerly RGG

Thanks Mark, yes I have to go for it .I hear there are some HH's & FHH's up in Michigan somewhere that might be kinda difficult to beat. And some more here in Tennessee come to think about it. I heard there are 116 other growers in the GWG and every one of them is out to outgrow me.And there were probably a few who were too timid or too dumb to join. So I will take any chances that I believe might help me to grow larger melons. :-)

6/2/2011 6:44:45 PM