Re: Plant orientation

In a message dated 98-05-10 19:45:06 EDT, you write:

<< :	 Plant orientation
 Date:	98-05-10 19:45:06 EDT
 From:	wilkinsonp@yed.ab.ec.gc.ca (Peter Wilkinson)
 Sender:	owner-pumpkins@mallorn.com
 Reply-to:	pumpkins@mallorn.com
 To:	pumpkins@mallorn.com
 
 Pumpkin World
 I planted my first plant ever today under a cold frame made from old screen
 doors.
 Once the plant starts growing should i train it to face south or does it
 matter?
 
 (Pumpkin Pete)    Vancouver Island,  Canada  
                 >>
Pumpkin Pete,
   Many growers plant their plant on the north side of the plot and let it
grow to the south. Top growers have had vines heading in all directions,
however. If your vine is heading in a direction you don't like, you can change
it slowly. The vine should be 4 or 5 feet long or more, before you try to turn
one. Vines tend to turn easier in the mid day rather than the morning. In the
morning the vines are more turgid and can crack easier. THERE IS NO WARNING
WHEN A VINE IS GETTING READY TO CRACK. It happens suddenly and the vine is
gone. Take the last couple feet of the vine and move it a little each day and
hold it in its new location with some crossed smooth sticks or plastic pipes.
Be careful not to damage the vine with anything rough. Another thing to watch
is to provide wind protection to the plant especially just before the plant
flops over and starts vining. If you have a thunder storm or gust of wind, it
will snap right off. I mound a little soil up around the base of the plant at
this stage which helps stabilize it. I won't have a plant ready to vine for a
month. To new growers.................. Many of the postings you see are from
Southern Growers or early bird Northern growers. If you have recently
transplanted or have a plant in the ground with a few leaves, you are doing
fine. It takes about 60 days to develop a nice vine ready to set
fruit.......transplant now, your setting fruit the first week of July....right
on target. Some southern growers start very early to try to set fruit before
the brutal heat starts. Here is another strategy for A southern heavy hitter
to try. Start a plant on July 10th...use sprinkling and partial shading to
help control heat. Set fruit Sept. 1 and you still have 60 days for fruit
development and a Halloween picking date................hmmmmmmmmmmm
......I've come up with crazier ideas. I bet Sept and Oct down South is more
like August up North. You might not make the GPC weighoff but you might set a
new State record.
                                            pumkinguy@aol.com
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