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Webster, NY

In the flag pattern, are all the vines growing to one side of the main cut off and only the ones on the other side kept? Are any of the vines on the other side removed?

Thanks,
Dave

11/19/2003 4:19:05 PM

Norton, MA

In the flag all the vines on one side are kept but none on the other.

11/19/2003 4:40:35 PM

Kenyon, Mn.

One big Newbie question...WHY ?

11/19/2003 5:17:01 PM

Norton, MA

Just to cram more plants into a small patch. I really wouldn't recomend it though unless the main is 35+ ft long and the longest secondary is 15+ feet long.

11/19/2003 5:30:30 PM

[email protected]

I've been wondering about this too. Is there any problem with leaving a secondary or two on the opposing side if space alllows? I allowed for 2 secondaries on one side of a flag this year & had problems with that plant. Though I doubt this was the reason. Was this wrong?

Steve

11/19/2003 5:30:30 PM

Norton, MA

I really doubt thats what was wrong. And i think you could leave any number of secondary vines on the opposite side and it would only help. But don't just take my word on it if you're really curious.

11/19/2003 5:46:24 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

I want to know what Quinn or any one else who has grown this pattern have to say about the flag.

ie
1) distance of fruit set
2) which side the fruit should be set on
3) length of secondaries
4) # of sq ft

11/19/2003 6:00:03 PM

Saegertown Pa.

A true flag you cut of all of one side I don't do it that way. I like a couple leaves on the short side and the long side around 16 to 18 feet. I end up with around 20 feet across if you add up the short side and the long side. I set the pumpkin at 10 feet or more, I do not believe it makes any difference which side you set the pumpkin on. The whole idea is to make the plant smaller so the growth goes into the pumpkin and not into growing vines and so you have more room to grow more plants. my sq feet per plant was around 350 no more than 400. There is not an exact way to do it experiment. all my plants were differant I did not do it the same way twice.

11/19/2003 9:04:35 PM

Wisconsin

I assume people are using configurations like the flag pattern to put their plants at one corner of their patch to allow more plants. Does this make any sense though if one thinks about the plant from the root standpoint instead of the green part of the plant above the ground.

The roots of the plant will spread out 360 degrees from the plant base and then extend out 10-15-20 feet or more in all directions. By putting the plants on a corner of your "prime soil," aren't you limiting the percent of roots in the prime soil by 75% (ie only the roots in a 90 degree arc will be in prime soil).

I like the idea of a small plant (I am not sure that the configuration makes all that much difference) but I wonder if the ultimate goal would also include a very large root zone. Maybe even a root zone that doesn't have to share the soil with an adjacent plant.

11/19/2003 10:25:52 PM

Marshfield, Ma, USA

I grew a plant for the first time last year in the quarter flag pattern. I was intrigued by the possibility of getting more plants into the limited space I had, and the reputed easier care of the plant. This is what I did.

The pumpkin was set on the vineless side of the main vine about 17 feet out. I allowed the main vine to become the last "stripe" in the flag curving it at the end of the patch to join all of the other secondaries at a fifteen foot termination. I cut off about every fourth seondary. The main vine was roughly thirty five feet long. On the vineless side of the plant, I allowed a ten foot wide strip of uncompacted growing area. I constructed a walkway to minimize compaction that ran parallel to the main vine.Of course the immediate area of the pumpkin was walked upon with regularity. Because a large part of the growing area housing the root zone is vineless, weeding becomes much easier, as well as applying insecticides and fertilizers to the rest of the plant. Overall,the plant is considerably easier to maintain.

Wheter or not this is the way to go, the jury is still out, but it did produce my new personal best.

11/19/2003 11:01:18 PM