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Wallingford,CT

Which way will it vine? This question comes up every year and the answer has been well documented, ‘opposite the first true leaf’. In spite of this there are always some plants that have a mind of their own and want to go elsewhere. Now we all turn to ‘plan B’ and slowly turn the main vine until it is growing in the desired direction.

This year I put 1 plant in the corner of the rectangular patch with the expectation of the main growing diagonally across the patch. In the opposite corner I put an experimental plant with the same plan. This second plant will be culled before it encroaches on the space need by the first plant. Not one but both plants immediately wanted out of the patch. They are siblings and there must be some sort of family feud between them.

Time for plan B. It has taken about 8 feet of main vine to slowly turn plant #1 around and its now headed across the patch but in the area of the stump it’s a mess. Its to crowded and it wants to start secondaries everywhere. The first females are far enough out on the main but still to close to the stump because of the big U turn.

On to the experimental plant. Knowing I would cull this plant I put it even closer to the corner so a big U turn is out of the question. So now I offer to you ‘plan C’. As the plant grew and started to vine I supported it upright with bamboo sticks. Once it was long enough I began to slowly flip it over the top. You will need to provide additional support until it is safely down and vining in the desired direction.

Next time you have one that vines in the unexpected direction think about plan c its quicker and easier than plan b.

6/29/2003 9:48:02 AM

Long Island,New York

I always plant my plants at a severe angle in the direction they are desired to vine, opposite the first true leaf....burried to the coty leaves....this way they not only are persuaded to vine "the right way" but in order to go the wrong way they have to defy me AND gravity. PLUS, should it be a "defiant one" like both of this years incorrigable brats, I will place a light 2 feet off the plant in the direction the are supposed to grow.....never had to redirect the vine yet for "stupid" plants, and Ive had alot of "stupid" plants.Mt two cents.

6/29/2003 1:02:51 PM

Knopp, Germany

this year i pllanted one sothat i only had to go left or right. in other words, i didn't even try to plant it in the right direction, i planted it so that it was growing at a right angle, from there it was easy to "push" in the right direction

6/29/2003 1:29:30 PM

[email protected]

Hmmm....Bart's been breeding brats! You 707 did this to me too Bart. Upon your & others advice, I "shoved" the 707 with a helping handful (or more) of soil & the offender saw the light.

Plan C sounds scarey. I suppose an elaborate support mechanism was employed. Cords & pulleys from an overhead support?

This settles it for me once & for all. I'm stealing the ideas of all CT growers who have shared a variety of dilemas. Between Chris F's Bio-planter thingy. David G's patch tour yesterday. Now this.

My best plant spent it's first 5 weeks in the greenhouse. Next year my whole patch is going to be one large greenouse. Overhead support for various plant altering contraptions. And plenty of overhead support for my climate control system that I should be installing as I type.

I hereby propose a Metro NY & CT meeting of the minds at some time in the future to share these ideas over cold beverages. LI is a pleasant 40 minute ferry ride with a landing only 10 minutes from my house.

Back to my sprinklers!

Great stuff Bart!

Steve

6/29/2003 2:41:10 PM

Walton N.y.

i started 5 plants and 3 of the 5 grew mains in the direction of the 1st true leaf opposite of where i wanted them to go and all my melon plants are growing where they want to as well

6/29/2003 5:38:36 PM

Deer Park WA

Interesting, I had my little Emmons 1262 heading the way "I" wanted it to go except the prevailing winds (S to S.E) caused the plant to actually do a 180 degree turn around while it was getting ready to lay down, and is now growing like crazy towards the field pumpkins!

6/30/2003 1:27:18 AM

syracuse, ny

Chris F's Bio-planter thingy. LOL!
get this book:
What's Rong With the Environment??
By O. Hazzard

hhmmmph...lol

6/30/2003 7:30:26 PM

porterville,california usa

i plant mine any old way and turn them when the vine is about 3` long. about 10 degrees a day is all i suggest. i was mad at a cull once and turned it 270 degrees all at once. it didn`t do anything!........ever again

7/1/2003 2:51:13 AM