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Central Minnesota

I was thinking last night, what is more important roots or leaves? Obviously both are necessary for growth. Last year after losing my plant to frost, the pumpkin continued to grow for a week without any leaves. I assume that is about all it would have grown before it quit. But, it did get me thinking, with a good root systen, how many leaves does it really take to grow a giant? Wondering what others thoughts on this are. I have had the same thing with July Hail. Leaves totally shredded but with a good root system in place the pumpkin contines to make good gains with hardly any functioning leaves.

6/27/2013 2:13:35 PM

Colorado

Hey scott,good question.Obviously we need a minimum of both.My guess is leaves are slightly more important.That growth you refered too would have been from sugars etc. stored in the plants cells.Ive had extremely well rooted plants where the pumpkin was a slow grower.So I'm guessing its leaves with tons of mitchondria in their cells. Hopefully joe ailts will chime in on this one.

6/27/2013 3:21:21 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I don't know if this is relevant.
A few years ago I pulled up a whole A.G. plant, and put it in pile in the grass alongside the garden. About 5 or 6 females were pollinated after this, and grew to about a couple of pounds each, if I recall correctly. I'm guessing it was because of the stored sugars, etc. in the plant.

6/27/2013 11:17:15 PM

Connecticut

This is kind of a theoretical question, but...

I think that roots are slightly more important as the leaves need to have water to move nutrients and photosynthesize and water absorption comes from the roots. Also, if you look from the start (seed stand point) the root comes before the leaf.

As growers we tend to focus on the leaves because they are easy to see, but the roots are also a big part of the biomass of the plant. Root hairs are really what is important as because of their high surface area there is a greater % of absorption that occurs at this particular portion of the roots.

Just my thoughts.

6/28/2013 10:03:43 PM

Albert County, New Brunswick,CANADA

Check out this article from Mother Earth News about building soil. It says this " Between 20 percent and 40 percent of a plant's total carbohydrate production is released into the soil through its roots." among other things.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/building-fertile-soil.aspx#axzz2XasMST9D

6/29/2013 4:59:39 AM

Minnesota

I'm thinking leaves grow the 500-1000 pounders, and the healthy leaves and roots grow the 1000-1500+. I've been holding off on all nitrogen this year and my plants look wimpy compared to other years but my root system looks better than other years so I was kind of wondering the same question but time will tell for me.

6/29/2013 7:36:19 PM

Central Minnesota

Great feedback. Joe I am trying the same approach this year.

6/29/2013 10:42:09 PM