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Salem, Oregon

I wanted to get a consensus from all the growers out there on a dilemma I have going with the 1807 Stelts in my patch. On the 15th of June, I discovered a crack/split on the main vine. It os only the top 1/4 of the main at 10 1/2ft out. This is the link:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=180868

My first set is at 11 1/2ft out. My dilemma is this....Would training the "S" curve potentially cause it to tear more as the vine gets bigger? What about the pumpkin raising that main and that split only a foot away?

6/27/2012 3:14:59 PM

Colorado

Those type splits should heal up well.I think you should be okay.What I dont know is how the splits got there. If the plant genetically is prone to spliting then its going to be a walking on thin ice situation.If the cracks resulted from pinning the plant down to much or a bad wind event then Id go for it.Cut the leaves off the main where it gets lifted off the ground as the pumpkin grows and cut off any secondary thats putting strain on the hoisted main.let the main get past the pumpkin about 6/7 feet before you put your final s curve in the main.

6/27/2012 7:01:23 PM

Salem, Oregon

cjoe....I was thinking along those lines. I don't think the plant is genetically prone. The plant had been doing well with pinning down, however I think I can recollect hearing a very faint snap. I was probably to small to notice until the vine gre some more and the stalk underneath got bigger creating a sort of pivot point. The vine was going skywaywards a little more becuase of the stalk being directly underneath the main. We also had some unusually strong winds taht didn't help matters either....

Everything, stalk....Tendril.....and secondary has been cut from that junction and looks to be scabbing over pretty good. I have a second 1807 Stelts X 1818 Bryson that's slow out of the gate. I have alot better idea now on how to go about this kind of deal.

6/28/2012 12:45:53 AM