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Anyone ever had bent stems near the base of the stump? I have one that the inside angle of the bend is about 70 degrees. There's a pic on the 6/4 entry of my diary. I'm just concerned about the flow of water/nutrients inside the stem as the stem grows in width.

6/4/2003 11:46:27 PM

Deer Park WA

I saw your picture Bridgitte I don't think you should worry about it too much, my 651 had a big ole kink in it last season and well it grew a 651 pounder.

6/5/2003 1:33:01 AM

Chico, Ca

If you are worried about stress you can just bury the whole mess as long as you are not looking for a "second main or back main". We had our 654 Troy 01 snap 4/5 the way through about 6-8" above ground right after we planted it last year.We buried it and watered it with B-1 and grew a 758.5 lb with it.Remember a vast amount of rooting area will come from burying the vines as it grows so a kink shouldn't hurt you too bad. good luck!

Robert

6/5/2003 3:26:14 AM

Deer Park, WI

Yep I agree...My 705 had a kink almost exactly like yours, from the beginning. Make sure the vine rests on the ground as soon as possible, so the kink isnt acting like some sort of lever. As long as it doesnt crack open, you will be fine.

6/5/2003 8:54:10 AM

Waquoit Mass

Kinda a personal question isnt it lol

6/5/2003 9:47:11 AM

Waquoit Mass

Kinda a personal question isnt it lol

6/5/2003 9:47:21 AM

Waquoit Mass

Kinda a personal question isnt it lol

6/5/2003 9:47:33 AM

Waquoit Mass

Kinda a personal question isnt it lol

6/5/2003 9:47:43 AM

syracuse, ny

get bent. remember also that the vine is hollow, so if the outside is okay, it should be fine...it is not like a garden hose, where a kink is really bad.

6/5/2003 12:44:19 PM

Southeast

I do not believe that this problem as most have not been studied in a randomized controlled fashion. Dave

6/5/2003 1:58:57 PM

No Place Special

The responses here are shocking but somewhat releaving. I was really expecting the majority of the opinions to place this situation in a very negative light. I currently do not have this problem but admit I wory about it with every plant as it lays down. I was excited to see so many still have such great results with a kinked main vine. Does anyone out there feel that a kinked vine IS a major problem? Brigitte thanks for bringing up this topic!

Mike Frantz

6/5/2003 3:39:49 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

I have the same problem, the main has a nice kink in it about 6' up from the stem. I was concerned with any long term affects later in the season. I thought about burying the whole shooting match. - out of sight out of mind...

In this case I have a back up main already growing the the right direction and I think I will be going with it.

The original main is about 2.5 ft long and the back up is only a ft and a half.

I'll be terminating the original main real soon.
We'll see how soon the back up starts to take off.

CEIS

6/5/2003 4:49:39 PM

Good thing it's not like a garden hose...I realized that both of my plants at that planting site had a bend...so I just ignored the bends and culled the worse plant, like normal.

6/5/2003 5:33:02 PM

Utah ([email protected])

Brigitte,
My suggestion is that relieve some tention at the base of the plant so it can lean slightly toward the vining part of the plant.

Then mound dirt just after the kink to relieve more tension. Be careful not to move the vine up and down in the process as a kink, like a flat vine, will split on the sides if bent a time or two... it doesn't take much.

Yes, that is the voice of experience. I may not know how to grow 'em big, but I do know how to do damage!!!

Good luck!!!
Brent W.

6/6/2003 12:00:50 AM