From

Location

Message

Date Posted

southern MN

I know in past posts that the pumpkin root system can be quite extensive but what is the limiting factor on how big the root system will become (other than a hard compacted soil restricting growth). Are the roots genetically predetermined to only grow so much? Or will roots stop growing when adequate water is obtained to sustain plant growth? Or will roots stop growing when adequate nutrients (i.e. N, P, K) are obtained? Or a combination of adequate water and nutrients are obtained? Or does x number of vine equal x number of roots? Any ideas

Just curious because there is so much discussion on pruning vines so that a plant focuses on fruit growth and not vine growth; could there be the same thinking that once the “optimum” amount of roots has been achieved could there could be “to much” root growth after that point which could take away from fruit growth? Or is the more the better?Wayne

1/23/2003 4:46:16 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Wayne a newbies take on it. I'm Sure more experienced guys will chime in. Roots are discussed in distance from the "STUMP" or original root potting placement in the soil. This Main root can get quite extensive and while there are many record fruit set further down on the main vine most posts I've read try to keep it out twelve feet but inside 18 just something they look for...the other roots are tap roots they occur at each leaf junction and secure the vine down to the ground and feed the plant. Most posts on these seem to agree that secondary vines those vines that come directly off the main will feed back to the main vine but tertiary vines the ones you prune off come off the secondary vines because they don't directly feed back to the main vine fruit. These roots in loose soil can get very long also probably 2 feet or more but not near as thick as the stump....Since most of the serious growers prefer to call it leaf count and every leaf has a tap root I would say they like somewhere between 800-1200 leaves so the root count would be the same...terminating a vine at its tip will stop it from growing further out thereby forcing the plant from growing larger. as long as you stop any secondaries from growing out of the terminated vine...I hope this makes some sense ...Grow Em Big Chuck

1/23/2003 6:15:07 PM

[email protected]

A friend who owns a soil testing lab likes to sum up soil analysis by stating the most commonly missing chemical elemant from soil is oxygen. So I'd have to say that a good, loose, well draining, crumbly soil that is high in organic matter & decaying material has the potential to be the most limiting factor.

But sunlight, Phosphorous, Potassium, Calcium, insects, & soil borne fungal pathogens all play a roll too. I think anything that institutes any form of stress will result in a general lack of plant performance. Roots & all.

1/25/2003 8:19:14 AM