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Pennsylvania

How do you go about burying vines? Do you have to wait until they are a certain length, develop secondaries, and have leaves etc.?

5/26/2008 5:45:06 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Sam,

First, be sure that your soil is adequately drained. If your patch occasionally has standing water, don't consider burying vines. You will only suffocate the roots and your secondaries will rot.

If you do decide to bury, begin when each secondary vine is about 3 feet long. Dig a trench about three inches deep and lay the vine in the bottom. Cover with loose soil. If you use it, sprinkle a small amount of mycorrhizae in the trench before laying the vine in it.

Some growers like to uncover the vines after roots have become established. Personally, I don't due to the fact that our soil is well-drained.

Keep the trench 2 feet ahead of the growing vine to allow it to lay down in it naturally. A three-corner hoe works well for forming trenches.

When you are three secondaries or so from your set fruit, begin burying those secondaries a little farther out to prevent stress on the main vine. Be sure to check the tension on the main often.

Remember, you're only burying vines not leaves. When I bury, I cut the tendril and tertiary buds when I grow in the "Christmas tree" pattern. After all fruits have been set, I will also cut the blossom buds. All three occur at the leaf nodes. If you grow in the "McKie pattern", don't cut the tertiary buds.

Don't bury the main at all. Just my way, for what it's worth. I've learned a lot the hard way.

5/26/2008 7:37:28 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I neglected to mention, handle vines ONLY during the heat of the day. If you do so in the morning or evening, you risk major damage.

5/26/2008 7:42:02 PM