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Fairport,NY

Just curious how many growers apply some kind of method to get the vine down and running at the beginning and how many just allow good ole Mother Nature to lay it down?
Please describe your technique if you use a certain technique?
ie. force the downward direction with crossed sticks....etc.
Thanks

5/12/2012 5:47:35 PM

Buffalo, New York

Hi Bumkin
I never apply force. Maybe some guided direction with cross sticks above the vine, but I think cross sticks below the vine are just as important, if not more. I would hate to see a gust of wind snap that vine to the ground.

This is just my opinion, lets hear what others say.

5/12/2012 6:28:24 PM

Minnesota

I build a mound of soil under the main vine, as it lays on the soil mound I make the soil mound smaller and smaller tell the main vine is laying on the ground. I use shishka bob sticks in a "X" pattern over the vine to hold it down.

5/12/2012 6:32:15 PM

Canada

I do soil mounding as well Dave

5/12/2012 7:34:41 PM

Muddy Waters

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=157815.This one way of doing it.

5/12/2012 9:19:30 PM

Muddy Waters

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=158043

5/12/2012 9:20:40 PM

Lloydminster/AB

I watered mine today and the water moistened the soil enough that the plant flopped over as I was watering! It was very dry in my cold frame and it was my first watering. Never have I seen one go over like that. If they lean the wrong way I block them with a wooden block or something like, on the "wrong" side so they can't go that way. That's as far as I go for force.

5/12/2012 9:58:57 PM

Rhode Island

excellent info jeremy and richard.you only get one main per plant so lay that puppy on the ground with extreme caution as these men mentioned above.
protecting from wind gusts with supports is always the way to go.elevating a soil ramp along the main also makes laying her down easier (and faster )
pap

5/12/2012 11:00:09 PM

South East

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY7xyQe9T9A&feature=g-upl

5/12/2012 11:06:12 PM

Buffalo, New York

Nice video Frank!

5/13/2012 2:31:01 PM

morristown, Tn email [email protected]

i force mine down a little at a time as not to kink it

5/13/2012 3:45:00 PM

Colorado

build up a dirt ramp- use bamboo to bring it down slowly.you can put bamboo underneath so it doesnt kink. Like dick says you dont want to kink your main-lol

5/13/2012 8:18:22 PM

Upa Creek, MO

I don't apply force, but the force is with me.

5/13/2012 8:48:29 PM

Joliet, IL

you can take 2 bamboo sticks and make a future cradle. Then you can remove a little dirt on the main side only. Leave the other dirt and recompact a bit for stabilization on all sides but towards the main direction. Then make sure the second true leaf stalk is not touching the soil. If it is, dig a little dirt groove for it to go lower. Check for tendril or tenril feet stopping laydown. If you have a misting system, the mist droplets on the leaves will help tilt the plants main to the cradle. Eventually lower the cradle, dig just a little more dirt away from base on main side. Now it is resting on the cradle. Now over and below to cradle down and from wind pushing other direction. Remove second true leaf if it is almost co.pletely down and you can't dig anymore below. Then captan the fresh cut and you are down. Keep cradle above and below as she runs.

5/13/2012 10:58:19 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

I agree with Shazzy, I had to remove a leaf yesterday, just a reminder...its better off to do it sooner than later, having seperation anxiety about removing a leaf for the better good of the plant is silly.
Grow smart, not hard.

5/14/2012 8:48:11 AM

Joliet, IL

I hear ya Tom. It all depends on the arc of the stalk of the second true leaves. Some you need to cut to get to lay down nice, some plants you don't. The ones that don't I then bury the second true leaf stalk that is already in the groove you made while lowering it down. This buried curved stalk on the ones you can leave on are another nice stabilizer while the plants are small. I then usually remove it later on when vine is about 4 feet when secondaries start running and the plant is stable so rot doesn't form on the buried leaf stalk in that critical area.

5/14/2012 9:13:40 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Every year I need to remove the "kickstand" second true leaf when the plant is starting to lay down.

A few crossed sticks above (and below so the main does not drop too quickly) and over the course of a couple of days...the main is on the ground and off and running.

5/14/2012 11:49:42 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Ok boys,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I'm headed out to the patch now with all the learning I just had!


Thanks Cooks, shazzy, Tom and Glenn!!!


Wish me luck!

5/14/2012 12:20:53 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Is it warm out yet? Its 9:00 in CA....wait tillZ noon to do any MV manipulationZ.....

5/14/2012 12:51:33 PM