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Bloomington, IN

I found a split 14 ft out on my main vine today, but it looks like it has tried healing itself. As luck may have it though, it occurred right after a nice female blossom instead of before. But now what should I do? Let the main keep going, or terminate and train a secondary? I figured since the split is right after the blossom I could position the pumpkin (if she takes)and let that secondary at the same leaf junction take over as the new main. I hadn't originally planned on letting this blossom be the keeper because I wanted to let the plant get bigger first (only about a 100+ square feet, being grown in a flag pattern). Should I let this female grow or wait until the plant gets bigger and pollinate on a new main?

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/brianmo/The%20Garden/2009%20Season/DSCN3584.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/brianmo/The%20Garden/2009%20Season/DSCN3586.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/brianmo/The%20Garden/2009%20Season/DSCN3587.jpg

6/30/2009 6:53:05 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

Its a minor split. Treat it with fungicide and keep it dry for a while. Should be no problem

John

6/30/2009 8:14:31 PM

Bloomington, IN

Unfortunately in the four hours since I took those pictures, it appears to have gotten worse and looks to be about a third of the way threw. Is that too far? I treated it with a fungicide and gave the end of the vine some support as the vine had been doing a lot of 'bonering up' right before it split.

6/30/2009 10:11:05 PM

[email protected]

You need to start using crossed bamboo (or similar) stakes to keep the main under control.

Once the main is broken it's broken. Whatever regrowth occurs will still provide a compromised flow of nutrients.

6/30/2009 10:42:01 PM

Bloomington, IN

Thanks guys. Looks like I'll have to train that secondary. I also took a closer look at the female blossom and noticed a small nic where it had been rubbing against the leaf stalk, so unless I can't get anything better to set, this one will just be a practice pollination.

7/1/2009 12:04:47 AM

Vacaville, CA

I have a similar thing happening, but it is a 4-day old pumpkin stem that seems to be splitting more than the plant vine. Like "pumpkin cholo's issue, mine is happening where the leaf grows from the bottom of the vine. Should I be avoiding these nodes and pollinating at the nodes where the leaves are on top? Thanks!

7/1/2009 1:28:29 AM

Ohio

ND, i had the exact same type split on a 1289 I grew, and a even worse one on a 1402 I grew, thats nothing to worry about bud, wrap it up with plumbers tape for about 5 days so it doesnt split any more, then paint some daconil on it right from the bottle and you shouldnt have any problems.

Here is a split in the vine of a 1289 I grew, you cant see the split very good by the pic, but it was exactly like yours, exactly, only mine was right at the pumpkin.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=67821

7/1/2009 5:04:44 AM

Bloomington, IN

I don't think the photo I posted does justice to just how deep it got before it stopped, and to add insult to injury in an effort to get the main back under control and keep it from 'bonering up' (lol), the darn thing kinked. So I'll take it as a hint from mother nature and just terminated it after the blossom and train a secondary. But thanks anyway Brooks!

Question - When I make the cut, should it be all at once and treat with fungicide? or a little at a time? I appreciate your guy's help!

7/2/2009 3:32:27 PM