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Germany

To me it looks like something I wouldn´t have to worry about too much. Pumpkin plants can do amazing things, their vines will get horribly thicker in the course of the next weeks, and in most cases they will keep splits like these closed. Anyway, what I would do in case of such a split (if it happened in my pumpkin patch) is the set of the following things (which aim at keeping that part clean, dry and free of further stress): Step 1) Carefully remove some of the soil (like one finger thick) around that part of the vine, carefully clean that part of the vine with some water (just let some water flow over it, don´t rub or brush) and then let it dry in the sun. Step 2) With a small but sharp knife remove the two secondaries, which emerge from the leaf nodes adjacent to the split (the two very tiny secondaries, which aren´t like vines yet but developed some tiny leaves already). Don´t cut off too much, just make sure there won´t be new growth emerging from these two nodes. Step 3) With a fine brush I would then apply a dispersion of sulfur powder in ethanol to the wounds and, if you like, also to the part of the main vine which has that split. Step 4) Always try to keep that part of the plant dry. Don´t water near that split part of the vine.

As to step 3: In a jar I mix some sulfur powder with technical grade ethanol (94% ethanol) and wait for an hour. Some milligrams of the sulfur will dissolve in the alcohol, but most of the sulfur powder will remain as a dispersion. When applying that mixture to the wounds on the plant (just a thin layer), the alcohol will do some instant disinfection, and it will dry pretty soon. It will leave behind a thin (basically invisible) but homogeneous layer of sulfur, the sulfur that had been dissolved. Also, depending on how much sulfur powder (from the dispersion) you get on the brush and put on the wound, there will be even more sulfur which will help to keep that part of the vine dry and clean.

6/16/2024 4:36:42 AM

Germany

Your main vine issue served as some inspiration for me to post some details about "Crown Cosmetics" in my diary today. You are growing AGs in your first year, but I´m sure you will find it fun (at first glance) and some kind of addictive sports sooner or later. The first part (the fun of it) is the most important, but the "sports part" certainly makes you want to improve your personal best year by year, which is good, too. Hence, I thought this Crown Cosmetics thing could help to give newbies some new input for the next pumpkin season (maybe still for the current season). Have fun, and I wish you a successful first year in the world of Atlantic Giants :)

[Last edit: 06/16/24 6:50:35 AM]

6/16/2024 6:50:07 AM