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Location

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Anderson, IN

A couple of questions from a new AG grower. Not sure if I have done something wrong to get to this point or it just has a mind of its own but my main vine seems to be growing pretty high and was not laying down to the ground. Well one vine main has grown long enough in the air that it has bent and caused a split. Here is a pic below. Is this part of the process or should I protect it somehow from doing this as I have another vine doing the same thing so I added support for now? I did plant it down 45 degrees toward the second leaf.

Secondly repair of this from what I am seeing would be to add captain and a fan to keep it dry or maybe this would be to much damage at this location while still in the air and I should plant a backup?

Far picture.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=323848

Close up.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=323849

5/8/2021 10:32:21 AM

Grittyville, WA

You could put the fungicide or sulfer if its going to get irrigated or rained on much. Doesnt look like a season ending split... Id say keep on going.
As long as its dry it should heal & remain healthy. Plant a backup if you want to, but if it was my patch I wouldnt worry about a backup plant I'd just go with it.

5/8/2021 1:44:02 PM

Grittyville, WA

Dry and not humid... would be good.

5/8/2021 1:46:25 PM

Partlow,Va

use wooden skewers it may take many if the plant gets leggy. also use your soil just hoe/shovel a mound in front of it

5/8/2021 3:15:07 PM

Centennial Colorado

I had this happen last year. The key is to not put anything on it except for a fan. My plant main vine split in half last year because of the same issue and still made it to 817 lbs. The key is easing off of nitrogen as well. Nitrogen makes the plant brittle.

5/8/2021 3:17:57 PM

Anderson, IN

Thanks Gritty, should I look to support the main vine or just let them fall as they grow out? I guessing the ideal ending position would be the main hugs the ground from the stump out right?

5/8/2021 3:18:14 PM

Anderson, IN

Good ideas, Thanks. I will move some dirt there, add a fan and support. Would you say this is normal with the main vine needing added support near the base or just mine is to leggy?

5/8/2021 4:41:21 PM

Syracuse, NY

I see nothing leggy about it, in that the plant is doing very well, for clarity - I would leave the very first crossed bamboos there along with that one established tendril and then literally cut off any supporting tendrils AFTER that because that vine has to come down soon, very soon anyway; There may be another weak, narrowing point right after the first-crosseds as well, or it may be a slight flattening of the vine (normal here) which can be used to your advantage by allowing that flatness to act as a serpentine belt, somewhat more flexible. I would personally swap the two itsy-bitsy stakes there with longer, fatter ones that are side by side, one on either side of the vine but perpendicular to it, to guide that growing vine exactly where you want it to go, like about one HALF INCH leftward to start, by the picture at its time, right before that tendril (a stump it will be). Cripes, maybe in the future we could foresee putting in those parallel stakes each at an ANGLE and guide vines down more effectively, I dunno, but good luck! Later---eric g

5/8/2021 5:58:38 PM

Bethlehem CT

The good news is that you are aware of and recognized a situation before real damage has occurred. It is better to be proactive rather than reactive. (if possible)

5/8/2021 6:37:07 PM