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long Island

When is the best time to do this?

When they are tiny and just starting out, or when they are huge, or only when they are a problem and in the way?

6/14/2010 8:34:30 PM

Georgetown, Ontario

Yes, No, Yes

6/14/2010 9:28:54 PM

New York

I probably won't be cutting the tendrils on my plants at all, unless one or two becomes a huge problem. I feel the energy used on them does not have any significant effect on the fruit, but that's just my opinion.

6/14/2010 9:30:55 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

i do not bother cutting tendrils, some do i do no not, they can be used to help anchor the plant by piling soil over them or burying them.

6/14/2010 9:34:54 PM

Deer Park WA

Yikes why cut off their feelers? Some we do as the Borer said but only to help the vine lay down or let go of a leaf. Its fun to watch the tendrils grab on to an errant weed and choke the liven $h!t out of it. These plants are smart!

6/15/2010 12:11:01 AM

Ohio

lol @ Gad, chocking the crap out of a weed,ha! Your right though, them weeds deserve that. lol.

But I take my tendrils off when I first see them out on the end of the vine when they are very small , they are easy to take off that way with just your fingers. While Im at taking the tendrils off I go ahead and take the microscopic vines and flowers that I can see off the new secondaries tips that are growing also.

Doing it this way for me is a big plus later from crawling back into my plant when the roots are already established from compacting the soil and maybe smashing a secondary or two .

Just to change the subject a little from Tendrils to flowers,,,
I leave just the flowers on the first 4 secondaries on both sides of the main and all the rest of the flowers/tendrils gets the ax while they are still young and can be pruned easily with just your fingers when they are out on the vine tip.

But what I have found is this will be all the flowers you will need for pollination(old trick Todd Skinner told me about).
This way you wont have to worry about the other flowers you will never use any way that I think are taking energy away from the plant and also them rotting onto your vines that could cause disease later when they die off.

6/15/2010 5:16:34 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

I cut the tendrils off the plant immediatly. I think it draws energy from the plant I only leave the main vine tendrils as they help protect the growing tip from bouncing.

6/15/2010 10:58:12 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Brooks, I took your advice and did the same thing with the flowers last year....worked great!! Shoot me an email when you can.

6/15/2010 5:56:10 PM

East Jordan, MI

I'm learning exactly what Brook says about the flowers. I will most certainly be done pollinating by the time the 1st 4 sides males are gone. Then I have tons of males on the rest of the plant that I have to try and get to to prune off. Would have been better to do it as it grew.

6/15/2010 9:31:51 PM

San Diego, Ca.

I have cut the tendrils off in the past but not anymore. The tendrils help the stability of the vine, especially in the wind. I've come home only to find my vines tipped over on their sides and secondary roots pulled up. I keep my tendrils now.

6/15/2010 10:03:49 PM

Upstate S.C.

If, one does not belive that A tendril sucks some energy out of a plant sure hasn't seen how HUGH they can become. I cut them for several reason. One, make for a cleaner plant. Second, Energy. I belive if you stake down all your vines,Your plants should be secure.

6/16/2010 2:41:43 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Cutting off tendrils and new growth can be called a form of Layering. This type of wounding injury to vine nodes has been well documented to stimulate root growth in several published studies....

There is one draw back to extensive tendril pruning and that is the induction of soil borne pathogens. The numerous entry points are often thought to cause disease problems later on down the road.

I am working on a new program this year of leaving tendrils on the main vine while quickly pinching off all extra growth on the side vines including all tendrils tertiaries and flowers.

It should be noted that I have no local disease pressure to worry about. Other than a perceived nematode problem I believe all my vector points for disease induction are under control.

6/16/2010 5:28:44 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Big Kahuna 8, I do not understand how you are having (percieved, or real) a prblm from a nematode? Isnt that a Colorado prblm??? But, seriously...how do you control all of your vector points for disease induction? Thanks for any info!!! Peace, Wayne

6/17/2010 12:49:16 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Wayne email me.

6/17/2010 5:00:36 AM