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Upstate S.C.

Hey guys, I have posted a new pic from this morning showing my main vine on the 812 Beauchmin. I thought it would drop however it hasnt much. It has gotten several inches longer but didn't lower. I took your advice Glenn and mound some dirt underneath the main. It was worrying me to death thinking it would break. I really don't know what else to do. I will post a pic later on, before dark to see if it has lowered any. Thanks in advace Chris

5/30/2009 6:04:24 PM

Buffalo, New York

relax, my 695 young plants main vine is growing towards the sky while the other 3 in the 2 hoops are starting to bend over, still gonna be another few days til they hit the ground.

this year, i am not worried about them growing towards the sky, both plants in my one hoop grew 90 degrees in the wrong direction, instead of opposite first leaf, they are growing half way opposite.

try some sticks in an X design to help they it down so it doesnt snap?

i refuse to cull a plant in each hoop until the main drop so my chosen plant doesnt snap.....

5/30/2009 6:08:57 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

i would add another set of bamboo sticks further out on the main

5/30/2009 6:36:51 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

Some love to lay down very easily while others like the 1287 Vankooten for example can be very stubborn. More bamboo sticks with lots of heat and time are the answer. By the way . Your plants are looking great. Extreemly healthy looking. Good luck.

5/30/2009 7:16:38 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Cross the sticks in an "X" under the vine to support it, you need to do this soon or face a possibility of snapping under its own weight.

5/30/2009 7:18:19 PM

Iowa

Make sure you water at the base of plant every day the way any plant will go over is if everything can give a little. Check to see if you can cut a leaf that is acting like a kickstand, if you don't want cut it dig down underneath it so the plant can lean.

5/30/2009 7:34:14 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

They look good Chris and will hit the ground anytime now.

Things are looking good!!

5/30/2009 7:36:32 PM

Ohio

Looks like the main is about 4 or 5 inches long(not counting the stump). First thing you could try is take a bucket full of dirt and mound it under the entire main vine,and give it a few days, then take the dirt out from under the main so she will lay down..Or,take that fresh cut grass or hay outta there Chris and let your roots get as much air as they possible can.

From the looks of it Chris, looks like you would be able to tilt the vine(plant) to one side or the other to help it down. But before you do that take your grass or hay out from around the stump area and loosen the dirt around the base of the stump, if you do that,she will lay down. Guarantee it.

5/30/2009 8:09:49 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

I agree with Brooks. Remove the hay. I don't see a need for it.

5/30/2009 8:16:12 PM

Upstate S.C.

Thanks for all the help guys, you don't know how much it helps. Just a couple of things. I have X's underneath the main and I have also mounded dirt underneath the main and I have also cut the "kickstand" leaf underneath. However I will remove the clipping from the base. I was told by a couple of Heavy Hitters that sometype of mulch tends to keep weeds at bay and keep mound protected, but I will remove it tommorow. And I will also take the mound of dirt away after a couple of days. Cutting the "kickstand leaf helped the 1279 lay all the way down. Thanks for all the help guys and I will keep you advised of the situation.

5/30/2009 9:11:59 PM

Ohio

Chris looks good! Now your on the right track for it to lay down. Good job, looks real good now.

5/30/2009 9:47:34 PM

Ohio

One more thing, make sure that mound of dirt stays underneath the main vine for a while, you want the vine to be resting on the mound of dirt so there is no strain on it. Looks good though Chris, nice plant.

5/30/2009 9:51:39 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

Sounds like you bin there done that Brooks.lol. Great advice.

5/30/2009 10:13:06 PM

Upstate S.C.

Brooks, Don, Glenn, Tom and the rest thanks so much.

5/30/2009 11:24:01 PM

Ohio

Broke way to many main vines in the early days Donkin,,,LOL!! Boy does it stink to come home from work with a main broke that is dragging the ground,,,ruins your whole day!,,ha!

5/31/2009 4:45:09 AM

those are nice looking plants!

5/31/2009 1:02:36 PM

Upstate S.C.

Alright guys, just an update. The plant does seem to be wanting to drop. After I returned home I took alittle of the dirt out from were I had mound it yesterday and the plant lowered so thats a good sign. The wind was terrible today so I placed more sticks around the whole plant. I will keep removing alittle dirt a day until it drops all the way. I will post pic's soon, so go check them out and Sir David and everyone else thanks for the nice comments.

5/31/2009 7:14:32 PM

Upstate S.C.

One more things Brooks, I was kinda afraid to losen the soil around the plants stump because of the roots. Will this not injure the roots or is there a way to do it without touching them. I tried to shot you an email but it keeps coming back to me. Thanks Chris

6/1/2009 1:03:22 AM