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Wisconsin

Ok so now that I have broke my second main vine trying to do the s bend I'm sure it's me. I am doing it gradually and in the middle of the day heat. What am I doing wrong? What type of a radius are you guys making when you do this? I have looked at the pictures but what size bend is that? would it match a five gallon pail, an ice cream pail, a cool whip container. I must be going too small too fast. I went to bed last night and everything looked good got up this morning and it was broke:(

6/19/2012 12:37:58 PM

Central Minnesota

If it is breaking later and not when you are actually doing it, you are putting to much pressure on it. Slowly add an "S" turn to the vine over a couple days and it will not break unless you put to much pressure at one time.

6/19/2012 1:26:09 PM

Ashby, MA

I wait until I see the female flower show up that I want to pollinate. Then I start moving the vine over the next 3-5 days getting it just right prior to pollination. Allow yourself plenty of time to do it very slowly.

6/19/2012 2:37:10 PM

Wi

It helps to do the S-curve after the main tip is well past where you want to make the S-curve...if that makes sense. In other words if you try to turn the vine near the tip that's more difficult than trying to turn the vine 6' back from the tip.

6/19/2012 2:54:00 PM

Wisconsin

well i had tried back farther from the tip on one plant and the vine seemed way too stiff so I aborted that attempt plucked the female and worked on the next which was right at the tip...well you know how that went. Maybe I am trying to make too sharp of a bend?

6/19/2012 3:43:15 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

I like to start heading it to the side of the pumpkin, then start to curve it. Almost like a wide turn, vear left before turning right. If you do it too fast, the pumpkin will stand up in the air. NOT GOOD.

6/19/2012 4:12:43 PM

Wisconsin

well I guess I need more practice for sure it just sucks that it will take another year to try again. I am already working on moving some of the secondaries around to cover the space. Can I still get a 700# + on a secondary vine?

6/19/2012 4:51:56 PM

Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

Yes you can. I broke the main on one of my plants about two week ago. The secondary just before the break grew very fast and was almost the same thickness of the main vine.

6/19/2012 5:20:05 PM

Muddy Waters

you can grow 4- 700 pders on 1 plant on secondarys its been done before.

6/19/2012 5:24:34 PM

Wisconsin

well then I guess i got some good experience Not what I wanted but that's why I'm a newbie:(

6/19/2012 5:28:45 PM

Mass

I dont kow about the radius, but I would only move it a couple of inches a day, make it very gradual.

6/19/2012 8:34:33 PM

Central Minnesota

As Chris said, I add my "S" well after pollination when the vine long past, just before the tap roots really start to dig in past the fruit set.

6/20/2012 12:12:12 PM

Cincinnati,OH

I wouldnt try anything smaller than 5 gallon pail type bend on the main vine.

6/20/2012 4:44:29 PM

East Jordan, MI

duane practice on side vines after they go past where you want to cut them off. After you get it bent the way you like, then cut it to the length you intended to make it in the first place. Do is several times, you will get the hang of it.

Like the others I think it is easier if the vine is 3 feet or so past the place where you want to bend it. Hold it far away from the bend spot and watch the vine. The bend will start to transfer along the length of the vine from the spot you are bending to your hand. When you see that -- stop. Take a couple of days and practice turning it -- go slow just move the tip a few inches and then wait. If its real hot you can move it 2 or 3 times over the whole day but not more.

6/21/2012 7:19:45 AM

Wisconsin

thanks for all the replies guys. Like I said I am pretty new to this. This is the first year I have buries any vines but Looking at the pictures I see in the diaries it looks like I am doing things like burying much quicker than most are. I have been burying just as soon as I can get it to stay on the ground so by the time the pumpkin is pollinated my vines are buried out past about another 12-18 inches. It looks like the best plant I have will be ok as That main broke about 6" past the female I had wanted and it looks like the pollination took at this point so I just terminated at the pumpkin at about 13 feet. The rest of the plant looks pretty good with lots of secondarys. The side vine practice deal is a great idea.
My garden is elevated and fenced so it has some bonuses like no critters ever but it has it's own challenges like when you get to the edge you are done like fence and then fall 2 feet.

6/26/2012 12:34:26 AM