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Somers, CT

This never happened to me before but of course there is always learning experience. I had some critters bite off the tips of my plants. Found them tasty. I was trying to go light on the pesticides and fungicides for a little bit but missed. I spread dried blood and have a container of fox urine (God bless the guy who collects the stuff). I have read this before but forgot the answer. Can I retrain a secondary closest to the bite or do I have to terminate and use one closer to the stump? It was 4 feet out when it was bit. I buried the ends. Thanks, Rob

7/6/2006 11:40:37 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Rob,

The next leaf node back from the cut would be the best one. Watch the 2 laterals (or secondaries) closely. The fastest one is the keeper. Cut the other one off right away so the plant "knows" what is expected.

Burying the end too soon could create a "situation" depending on how close it is to the new main.

7/6/2006 1:44:22 PM

ENGLAND

Rob. It may not just be the actual vegetation that the critters were after but also the juice inside the vines if these critters were thirsty in a period of drought. Try placing a dish, bowl or any container of water away from the Pumpkin Patch and monitor it if possible to see if these critters take a drink from the water you have kindly left for them. If you cannot monitor the drinking area to find out what critters are visiting your Patch just make the area around the water bowl etc quite muddy and take a look at the foot prints left behind by those visitors to the water. You can then identify these visitors from the foot prints they leave.

Just an idea.
Regards
Mike

7/6/2006 3:53:13 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Mike,

It's been raining like mad here in CT. No signs of drought yet which is odd since this is supposed to be the driest time of the year for us. I suspect deer but rabbits maybe too.

7/6/2006 6:05:24 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

watch the last secondaries before the break..sometimes the plant has a preference as to which one it wants to wire in...since the secondaries alternate try and take the one from the "strong side" to be the new main....I hope it's not wood chucks! they will be back once they get a tastes of TIPS..Good Luck..GrowEmBig! Chuck

7/6/2006 10:12:38 PM

ENGLAND

Steve. Ah, i see, it's not a thirst issue then. Let's hope that you get some better, drier weather there in CT sometime soon.
Regards
Mike

7/7/2006 5:39:15 AM

Somers, CT

Thanks all. I wanted to be sure I checked first. I apprecieate the great information as usual.
Rob

7/7/2006 12:57:36 PM