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Defiance,OH

my plants r gettn big enough to b ready to pollinate, should i do it on the main vine, or will a big secondary be good enough? i have 9 days off as of friday to watch for flowers to bloom, i was wanting to be able to know which flowers to watch for?

6/27/2012 5:21:22 PM

Buffalo, New York

this is my first year. i am guessing main is the best spot. But i have heard 200+ pounders have been grown on side vines and the back main (or whatever it's called).

6/27/2012 6:06:42 PM

formerly RGG

It is often difficult to get a set on the main. A good shape and length of the female blossom is more important than which vine it is on I believe. My best melon so far is set on a small secondary vine. The vine will get larger as the melon gets larger.

6/27/2012 8:14:26 PM

formerly RGG

Jeremy, we call the vines other than the main that grow directly from the stump, finger vines.

6/27/2012 8:16:40 PM

Buffalo, New York

Sue lied to me!
She told it it is a back main,shame on her ;)

6/27/2012 8:22:03 PM

formerly RGG

Play nice Jeremy. Chris Kent is the grower who came up with the term "finger vine". I think pumpkin growers may sometimes refer to a rear growing large vine as a "back main". :o)

6/27/2012 9:25:51 PM

Piqua, Ohio

I have one set on the main and both "fingers" so far they are all about the same, on melons I usually set em for access not sure it matters what vine they're on.

6/27/2012 9:45:41 PM

formerly RGG

Access can be a big deal. My first melon (after waiting a long time) set in the middle of the plant in a bunch of lush growth. I had to do a lot of cutting and moving to make good access to the melon and the vine it is growing on. I now have it on 2 x 4's sitting on a metal wire shelf which is sitting on more 2 x 4's. And I have moved or cut all vines that were crossing the vine the melon is on. Other vines are running underneath the wire shelf.

6/27/2012 11:11:20 PM