From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Pittsburgh, PA

Hi All,

It seems like my pumpkin doesn't want to vine (see photos here: http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/dibenea/library/).

It is getting quite large and I am worried that when it does fall over/start to vine that the main vine will break.

Any suggestions - or am I worrying for nothing?

Thanks!

6/28/2013 8:35:44 AM

Germany

At this stage (as I have seen in the pics) I wouldn´t worry too much. Shouldn´t take very long (aanother 2 or maybe 3 leaves) and you will see that the internodals are getting longer, forming a main vine. Sooner or later it will happen. As to falling over and snapping the main vine at the base, you should support the plant. There are different options, and you can combine them. You can build a little ramp of soil where the main vine will touch down, so that it can lay down much earlier, and then after maybe 3 ft the ramp can approach the level of the surrounding patch. Also, you can support the main vine by little bamboo stakes (or other sticks), which you put in the soil under the main vine (in a cross-wise fashion), so that the main can lay down only an inch a day (or something like that), at least it cannot fall over 1 ft and snap at the base.

6/28/2013 11:04:19 AM