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Ohio

After seeing the vine pattern of the 1631 Mckie I think this is going to change a lot of how growers train there vines now, don't you?
Do you think the old 'proper way' saying of cutting all vine growth off secondaries vines will be a thing of the past maybe?

How do you think the idea came about that any growth off a secondary will take away from the pumpkin? How did anyone really know that for sure?
Is this just a idea by a grower that worked for him and then everyone followed his lead?

1/8/2008 2:15:14 PM

Somers, CT

Brooks, You may want to discuss this with Don Young too. I saw the pattern and it was used to produce two 1600+ in 2007. Quite interesting. I am not sure where it came from but it may be a breakthrough.

1/8/2008 2:37:27 PM

Ohio

Rob, only thing Don wants to ask me is this question,

'' Brooks, Hypothetically speaking, if there is only one seed that you could grow in the world what seed would you grow?'' LOL

Seriously though Rob, I never knew that Don had a similar type vine pattern as Dan and Jasons 1631,
I'm looking forward to BS'n with him about it in Niagara. I also heard Don buys all the beer for all new comers to Niagara!

1/8/2008 2:53:30 PM

Georgia

Are there any pictures of this vine pattern around. Im curious to see it. I let a couple vines grow of some secondaries last year beacause of Borer damage. I was just wondering if there are any illustrations around?

1/8/2008 2:59:46 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Jason, at one point there was a diag. of the vine pattern you are asking about. I will search & post if I find it...BTW...you interested in going to Niagara? email me if so, wsmpeace@aol.com Grow em big!!!! Peace, Wayne

1/8/2008 3:03:37 PM

Georgia

Thanks Wayne..Id be intrested in going to Niagara and meeting some fellow pumpkin growers but moneys tight and I cant miss a day of work. Drink a couple for me though. And if ya can find a illustration id love to see it.

1/8/2008 3:12:27 PM

Ohio

I've been searching for online diagrams showing these new vine patterns. Perhaps, they are club secrets?

1/8/2008 3:15:22 PM

Santa Rosa, CA

Jason,

I saw a diagram (drawing)of the 1631 McKie vine pattern in the most recent SNGPG newsletter. If you can't find it elsewhere, I will make a color copy of it and mail it to you. Let me know if I can be of assistance. veader@sonic.net

Chuck

Chuck

1/8/2008 3:23:37 PM

Georgia

Thanks Chuck.

1/8/2008 3:32:49 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

From a chat with Dan McKie I saved from a few months ago...

Dan McKie: I will speak about it at Niagara seminar

...and...

Dan McKie: Sketch of 1631.5 will be in upcoming SNGPG newsletter

...and...

Dan McKie: I purposely delayed the the pumpkins peak... by not allowing to much plant terminated plant before the poll.

Dan McKie: or at least delaying the peak was my intention

Dan McKie: I only ran 2 secondaries at the stump...( 1 on each side) then pulled all other secondaries off until 2 weeks before poll

Dan McKie: ran tertiaries off of those 2 secondaries -- to fill in the back quadrants of the plot

Dan McKie: anywhere from 7-12 ft of main vine with no secondaries -- depending on the plant

Dan McKie: then ran the secondaries back to fill in the space that was left

Dan McKie: and ran tertiaries off of those

Sambo: so that way you would have fresh new growth at peak growing time day 25-40 or so

Dan McKie: better late season growth

1/8/2008 3:38:02 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Chuck nailed it...I knew I had seen it somewhere!!! Jason, it sorta looks like a 4,5,6 legged spyder!!! with 3 pairs of 2ndaries in the middle...wild lookin...let me know if you dont get a print soon!! Peace, Wayne

1/8/2008 4:19:14 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

OK, I want diagrams of this and I want them now! ;-)

So, the second batch of secondaries, are they before the fruit or after? It seems to me to be after, but you'd have a hard time growing tertiaries on the side of the main where the fruit is.....?

1/8/2008 4:56:07 PM

Ohio

Seems like I cant get much secondary growth after my pumpkin starts growing though, once my pumpkin starts growing my secondaries slow down to almost nill, this is something I gotta figure out. You could let a lot of green grow before pollination but you don't want to wait to long after July 1st to pollinate because if you do then by weigh off time the pumpkin will ether be still growing or have stop growing if the weather turns cold.

1/8/2008 5:20:50 PM

Niagara County, NY

Maybe Don Young can comment here.. but i beleive his pruning method was different from what we have been doing for the past couple years.

1/8/2008 5:21:11 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Same here about vine growth after the fruit... I get about 5 or 10 feet, but that's it. The vines slow down quickly for me after the fruit. The secondaries don't even get to 10 feet.

1/8/2008 5:44:24 PM

Frankfort Oh

Dan could you some how send me a pattern of how you and jason ,,did yours ,,i`d be iterested in seeing it myself ,,i`ve always wondered about doing it that way but never tried it !,,seem to go back to the christmas tree pattern myself,,but always willing to try something new!!thanks Rob ,,,,,,,,littlebit@horizonview.net

1/8/2008 6:30:39 PM

Georgia

Very Intresting man..so preety soon were gonna have a couple different patterns the Christmas tree..the centipede..the flag"which I dont like" and maybe next the spider monkey..lol Im looking forward to seeing the Mckies pattern.

1/8/2008 7:21:39 PM

Ohio

Still thinking about this.... Another reason why some of us might have slow vine growth after the pumpkin gets growing could be because we cut way back on Nitrogen at this stage to try to prevent splitting.
Other then that I don't have a clue how to keep the vines growing at a good rate with the pumpkin. I do think the the pumpkins growth takes away from the vine growth , and I think timing might play a big roll as well to getting both pumpkin and vines to grow together at a steady rate? Hell, I don't know just guessing here,lol

1/8/2008 7:29:07 PM

Sharon, MA

If anyone wants the 1631McKie Vine Pattern. I can email it to you. My email is pumpconn@msn.com
steve

1/8/2008 7:35:40 PM

huntsburg,ohio

Brooks 27 years of growing and if you have a good 1 going you won't have much good groth past it because the fruit is taking it all atleast that has been my experience.Jerry

1/8/2008 7:42:35 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Brooks, the Mckie's are on to something IMHO. I think their vine pattern will be copied many times in 08. I read the SNGPGA newsletter as well and guess what I'm doing this year.

1/8/2008 8:45:03 PM

ExtremeVegetables.com

I have a drawing of the Mckie pattern here:
http://www.perrysgreenhouse.com/vbforum/showthread.php?t=1198
You must be a registered member to view, it's free, I do that to protect the membership from spam etc. a few members in this thread are already members.

Don posted this video of his patch in the pruning discussion which may help give some idea of how the vine looked:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071002/VIDEO01/71002081/1001

If you aren't a member of the SNGPG you should be. Their newsletters are bar none. It's the best $20 you'll ever spend.

1/8/2008 9:36:06 PM

Mt Vernon Ky

I think Dan and Don got that patented Brooks LOL

1/8/2008 10:58:15 PM

Rhode Island

all i know is the past two world record pumpkins were grown off a standard sumo christmas tree style pattern

personally, i think a lot of vine variations would work. i just feel allowing vine growth during fruit growth takes away from the finished product. it should be kept to a minimum

pap

1/9/2008 7:03:52 AM