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Rm, Tn

I half way broke my main vine today. My pumpkin is set at about 10' and the vine is split halfway in two about 18" from the fruit. I buried the split under a few inches of potting soil. Was this the right thing to do or should I cut it off? I am planning to let my two secondaries grow about 16'. Is that enough vine if the main is only 11' long? Thank you for any advice you can give.

6/30/2003 9:28:09 PM

Ypsilanti Michigan

I broke a main this morning also. It got worse through the day as I came out every few hours. But I had a pumpkin a few leave back. Is your pumpkin in front? or behind on the main? Im trying to get enough guts to cut it off, but it looks like it's doing it all by it's self. All sappy with a hole visable in the vine. Bugs might use it for a hidding place. It will have to go! The more I wait, the longer it will take to heal, and loosing precius sap. Ill take a rubber band and a baggie, putting it around the cut with the rubber band wraped around it. It stopped leaking!

6/30/2003 9:43:47 PM

State Of Jefferson

i was working out in my pad about 2 weeks ago, and was trying to do the trench thing burring the secondarys, and in pushing down the main vine i heard a strange sound, kept pushing then saw what i had done, had split main vine about 75% the way through. so just burried and hoped for the best. the main stayed green, and has kept on growing like nothing has happened.

would people still grow a pumpkin on main or go to seconday, it will have longer vine that has not been grown. what do you think?

Doug

6/30/2003 10:35:06 PM

State Of Jefferson

that has not been brocken

6/30/2003 10:36:03 PM

Rm, Tn

Mine split about 18" passed the fruit. It didn't wilt today though. Don't your heart just stop when you hear that snaping sound!

6/30/2003 10:48:39 PM

Ypsilanti Michigan

The vine I broke started to slow down some. It had a few arteries to suport it, but wasn't enough to suport a prize winner pumpkin. It ticked me off when I herd it snap!!!!!! I thought it was all over! You work so hard to get where you are today. I know what it's like being out there all through the day getting to know your plant. covering the vines in the heat of the day. And then to move it slitly to hear a wet snap. It just messes your whole day up thinking about it!

6/30/2003 11:05:11 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

That "SNAP" is one of the worst sounds a grower can hear.
It can aslo be heard if one tries to improve the stem angle of a set fruit and they move it too much.

If the vine is broken AFTER the pumpkin, you have little to worry about.

I think you take your chances when you decide to grow off of a partially broken main. Only half or at least only a portion of the juices can now make it to the pumpkin if it is set after the break.

I experienced a break on a main yesterday. (not my fault, except for not providing adequate protection)
The break was about 60% - I decided to cut the rest of it off, and will train a secondary to be the new main.

As far as fruit set goes........we'll have to see what happens. More-than-likey I will set the fruit on the replacement main. If I allow the secondaries to get long enough, I might set a fruit on them.

7/1/2003 6:18:12 PM

Ypsilanti Michigan

Thats why I get it at the tip of the vine. When a pumpkin is present, I pull the tiny leaf off, and the stringie thing. Then I use bamboo sticks at the tip to bend the young vine. ( It's more flexable to move) The vine has a bent already so I just keep it there untill it gets thick like the rest of the vine, and then remove the sticks and wait.

7/1/2003 7:03:55 PM

Rm, Tn

My vines have been growing straight up in the air, is this normal? Today the tip of my sec. split off all by it's self.It's about 8' long so I just buried the split . I think raising five kids was easier than growing one pumpkin!

7/1/2003 7:28:10 PM

Ypsilanti Michigan

I get a "V" shape where the pumpkin is, and have some shoulder room from the vine. After that, you can not bend it straight again. I had a pumpkin snap off last year, and she was really starting to grow! I didn't know, just left the darn thing alone not knowing anything. Thank you Big Pumpkins for your support.

7/1/2003 7:30:19 PM

Ypsilanti Michigan

It should get heavy in a little while, and begin to lower it's self for covering. I have a few myself thats sticking up in the air. I put some whieghts on them to bring them down little by little.

7/1/2003 7:37:42 PM

porterville,california usa

if they don`t come down you can always use the Christmas tree pattern. heee haaaaw!

7/2/2003 2:41:45 AM

Montoursville, PA

Shoot they have to get up and look where to run next! :)

Seems reasonable to me that the top of the vine is being tuffed up by the sun and wind while the bottom remains shaded and somewhat protected. In hot sand with reflected light they may just go up to get away from it untill they are ready to come back down.

Still however think they are just looking around to see what's up in the patch. Once satisfied by a wink from another that is up and looking around they both relax and go down. Hee Haa :)

7/5/2003 5:32:49 PM

Rm, Tn

My pumpkin vine is running though my daylily patch so I'd say your right. I just never thought of that. They'll lay down when the daylilies stop blooming!

7/5/2003 6:36:41 PM