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I'm sorda clueless when it comes to this... Should I be burying the whole vine, or just at the leaf nodes where the roots will sprout? I have been burying just the tendrils, is this a good thing? Aren't they what anchors the plant? Anywho...any advice is appreciated.

6/13/2003 2:39:55 PM

ipswich, ma usa

Bridgette

Bury it all! The boys up in NH (where the world record was grown) all bury their vines. The only thing you see in their patches is the leaves and stalks (and big pumpkins!!). Everything else is under ground. Very clean stumps too. They must be doing something right because Charlie Houghton, Jim Beauchemin, Jim Kunh, Peter Carter and Leautrneau all live within 10 miles of each other, and if the gaze at the Topsfield standings from last year you will see those names ranking way up top.

John (5150)

6/13/2003 2:50:04 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Growers choice on this one....


There are some HH's that don't bury their main, just the secondaries - see some of the featured grower's chat transcripts.
Others bury just the leaf nodes, and still others bury the whole thing.

East (coast) growers have something else to consider - The SVB young hatch and penetrate the vine. If there is less vine above ground the fewer the chances of a (season ending) infestation. I would NOT rely on the burying method alone for prevention. Systemic insecticide seems to work the best.

6/13/2003 2:55:06 PM

Chico, Ca

Or move out west....I dont have SVB.


Robert

6/13/2003 3:46:01 PM

Montoursville, PA

And one more thing. Wind can whirlygig a pumpkin. To bury is to help it stay in the patch too!

6/14/2003 8:49:54 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Brigitte, Take a look at "In the Patch" section...See all the plants and patches. It's unbelievable how these experienced growers maintain them. and you can see most are buried and weedless! Yikes! Chuck

6/14/2003 9:23:06 AM