RE: Help with vine positioning

Don't be afraid of acting. Be afraid of the result of no action! The effect
of leaving the fruit like this is much scarier. The stem will rip itself off
the fruit if no action is taken!

Nearly every ribbon winning Atlantic Giant that ever made it to a weigh-off
had to have its main vine raised. The adventitious roots that grow from the
vine nodes prevent the vine from rising. You may have to under-cut the main
vine as much as 6-8 feet (2-3 nodes) to raise the main.

If using a shovel to undercut the main scares you then use a better tool.

I prefer an old bread knife that I picked up at a yard sale for a quarter.
Slide it through the soil & under the vine a foot or so away from the rooted
node. Then start making a back & forth sawing motion while moving it in the
direction of the node. You'll feel it when the blade edge meets the roots.
Gently cut right through them. Two - three nodes might need under-cutting
but you should notice the tension on the stem going away as you work.

Once a sufficient amount of main has been loosened you may need some help to
pull or roll the fruit so that the stem is high enough to avoid ground
contact. Styrofoam blocks (such as used to package consumer electronics) may
be used to keep the main up higher & in line with the desired stem position
until the plant gets used to the new position.

Make sure to work in the heat of a warm sunny day which is when the vines
will be at their most supple.

Digging a hole under the stem is an often used technique by new growers.
This isn't a very good solution & should be avoided. The hole will fill with
irrigation &/or rain water which presents a new set of possible pumpkin
destroying problems.

Best wishes,

Steve

Stephen Jepsen
CT Giant Squash & Pumpkin Growers Assoc, Pres.
ctpumpkin@optonline.net
 
www.ctpumpkin.com
 
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of
Philip Cheatham
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 7:09 PM
To: pumpkins-digest@hort.net
Subject: Help with vine positioning

I have a 150lbs (OTT) pumpkin that is growing with the stem end angling
downward. The vine where the stem meets is now slightly pushing into the
ground, and by next week I'm sure the stem will be pushing into the ground
as well. I don't know how to stop the downward growth or how to raise the
stem end up. I guess I could carefully remove (shovel) some of the dirt
underneath the vine, but the thought of approaching my pumpkin with a shovel
in my hands scares the life out of me. 

Does anyone else have a solution?

 

Thanks much.

P. Cheatham

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