From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Santa Cruz, CA

One of our pumpkins did not follow the first leaf theory and is headed in the wrong direction. What should we do? Creek and son

5/14/2008 9:40:52 PM

Salem, OR

Main vine heads out the same direction as the second true leaf, right? Is that what you're talking about, or did somebody tell you first leaf?

5/14/2008 9:58:48 PM

Minnesota

Grab the tiller and expand the patch....

5/14/2008 11:01:14 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I have that happen about 20% of the time. Gently train it to grow where you want it to go. Use stakes as it grows to force it around, and you can get it turned 180 degrees in a couple of weeks.

5/14/2008 11:01:30 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

I always thought the main vine went the opposite direction of the first leaf. The direction of the second leaf seems correct too. All the other pumpkins are going in the correct direction except the 845 Bobier. I will slowly turn it. I can't expand the patch that way...too bad.

5/15/2008 2:06:17 AM

Somers, CT

Pick up the patch and rotate it clockwise to 180. That should do it.

I never seem to get that right. I just use bamboo sticks and guide the main where I want it to go. No big deal.

5/15/2008 7:58:32 AM

Murfreesboro, TN, USA

I have one plant that actually looks like a coiled up snake. It is the strangest thing I ever seen. I am still not sure which directions it will grow in.

I have a couple of others that seem to be angled slightly, and with careful movement and hold down I am able to get them fairly straight.

Every week when I get back I have to check the direction of all the plants and make any corrections then.

5/15/2008 8:27:01 AM

Bristol,RI,USA.

Creekside: there are exception's to every rule! now you have to just work with what is at hand, it should not be hard to turn it back in the direction that you prefer but do it slowly to avoid stressing the plant stem. always try to move or bend thing in the afternoon so the stem is warm and flexible !!!

calcubit

5/15/2008 11:09:21 AM

San Jose [email protected]

christine, good to see you back on here, was just tellin the wife i had not seen you on here in a long while, hope all is well.

Gary

5/16/2008 7:29:30 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

Everything is good here, just really busy with work. We have four pumpkins going. 845 Bobier, 1689 Jutras, 1502 Wallace and the 1233.5 Reiss. I hope to get a diary going...maybe when school is over. We also put in 250 other pumpkins and gourds at a new patch...yep Riley went crazy plus we had to plant a few for the gophers too. -Creek and Son

5/16/2008 9:15:38 PM