LATE SEASON CLONING UPDATE

Finally had some free time to finally post an update on the clone experiment here in Colorado Springs. I am surprised to have seen so many personal e-mails on the subject, as I did not think there were so many people who are interested in keeping a genetically special plant around for next season.
The clone plants that are growing now were actually from the seed of my 419 LB pumpkin from last year. The original clones taken from last years plant died in December while I was on vacation for 2 weeks. When I had returned, I did not want to quit the experiment, so I planted 2 seeds on the first of January, and kept them alive by using the pot to pot cloning method the entire winter and early spring. Since the big question was "will the plant have problems with being old, as its age may affect growth, flowering, or pumpkin development?" Well, the 2 plants are now 9 months and 9 days old, and both are still growing normal main vines, still kicking out baby fruit, and the both main pumpkins are growing at the same rate as a local grower who used the same seed {but planted in May}. The clones are not in very caring environments, one person moved from her house, and the people who now rent the house do not take care of it, but it still has a 175 LB {estimated} pumpkin on it. The other person never buried or pruned vines, never shaded or repositioned the other pumpkin, and has a 150 LB {estimated} pumpkin which looks to be done  thanks to the hot summer we had. The grower who used the seed and planted 4 months later {and does know how to take proper care of a plant} has one at 225 LBS {estimated} which mirrors the clones in every way.
So it seems age does not mutate or affect a cloned plant. Unless others get involved and research this further, we will not know exactly how long, if ever, it takes for a clone to be affected by its true age.
I am getting prepared now for another winter of more experimenting, and I will soon start getting some vines cloned before frost hits I will then keep 2 or three plants alive all winter this year.  I do not need to try different cloning methods this time, as The cloning method I was using last winter was quite successful. I am certain I will not have any problem keeping them around the entire winter this year. I also am certain I will find that by next summer those plants will be growing just as well as the clones that I used this summer.
Madman Marc
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