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NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

It seems that there are some flat vines. I also have one and it twisted one half time. Can tyou get a decent size pumpkin with a flat vine? Will the entire main be flat? With a ball park estimate, how long should my main be if I planted it on June 1st. I know they are all different but mine only grew about 5 ft. Am I cautioning too safely with the nitrogen? Thanks a bunch. God it feels great growing Giant Atlantic pumpkins again after missing 2 years.

6/25/2008 2:46:39 PM

milford, CT,

Flat vines/ribbon are a pain in the neck...I abandon that
vine and try to retrain another that seems normal. I know that some people have had success slitting the double and letting it continue but personnally I have only had success retraining a new vine. Hope this helps...Mark

6/25/2008 4:12:19 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

doubles and flats are two simular but different animals.

6/25/2008 4:24:39 PM

Midwest

I also have a flat vine but it split into two growing tips. One continues to appear 'flat' while the second appears normal. I am not going to abandon my plant and I don't think you should abandon yours. I think you should not be concerned about the length of the main unless you have other plans. I've heard different opinions on the size of pumpkins from flat/double vines. Many experienced growers say no big pumpkins. But, what they think is a small pumpkin is probably between 900-1000lbs. I believe play with the hand your dealt and don't worry about the predictions of others. Do the best with what you have. Who knows, you might beat the best 'normal' plant out there? About adding nitrogen... Compare the length of your stem with the distance from leaf to leaf. If the length of a 'full-grown' stem is longer than the distance from leaf node to leaf node, add some nitrogen. If the distance between leaf nodes is longer than your 'full-grown' stem, don't add nitrogen. If your leaf edges are brown, don't add nitrogen. If you leaves are light-green and no diseases are present, add nitrogen. By the way, none of my habeneros germinated... don't understand why.
Greg

6/26/2008 1:44:27 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Greg thanks for the explanation. I didn't know most of what you said. Thanik you for teaching me. Sorry about the habaneros. I do not know why they did not grow either. I have plenty more of them if you want to try them. They would probaly grow next season? You are welcome to them my friend, just email me.
Jerry

6/26/2008 9:50:25 PM