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Bristol, ME ([email protected])

My main fruit is at 25" circ. but it is at only 40 degrees or so off the main vine and the stem is curved toward the main to boot. I've had tension on it with an old nylon for about five days and it appears to be starting to turn. I have been gently moving it an 1/8 to a 1/4 every other afternoon. My concern is the curve in the stem preventing me from getting it any where near 90 degrees. Will this curve come out in time and can you actually move a fruit 50 degrees before it's too big to move? I'm scared to pieces I'm gonna snap it off..Can't lose this one.

7/20/2002 7:32:11 AM

Bristol, ME ([email protected])

Well fear has become reality...just found a 3/4" vertical crack where the stem meets the main vine. I applied captan to the crack which is very thin and only leaked a few droplets. Now what? There's no way I can move it for at least a few days. It's well supported where it is by the nylon wrapped around it and staked down but I'm worried as it grows, the tension gets tighter and puts more strain on the crack. Again, the crack is very thin, but nevertheless is my nightmare come true. Should I be cutting the tap roots neat the fruit to relieve more of the stress? I was going to wait until it got a little bigger but now I'm not sure.

7/20/2002 8:49:57 AM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

If the vine isn't buried try moving the vine away from the pumpkin. The key is to do this when the pumpkin is forming (before the blossom opens). That way you can get the pumpkin to set on the outside edge of a 90 degree turn. It works great and save a lot of headache at this stage.

7/20/2002 9:58:04 AM

Bristol, ME ([email protected])

Well, the vine is 10 feet beyond so that ain't gonna happen. The position wasn't bad but it decided to roll the wrong way and that gave me the problem...Rookie mistake I'm sure. Anyhow, I can't really move the vine much...Should I cut the tap roots and adjust the vine as much as I can and leave the fruit where she be or what...
Am absolutely depressed....

7/20/2002 11:38:04 AM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

Cutting the tap roots for three or four nodes either direction is must.

7/20/2002 3:59:59 PM