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long Island

That split I posted about turned into a crack. 90% through.
The last 24" of main was hanging on by a thread.
today I cut it off with a bread knife.
I will post picture as soon as it appears in my diary.
I used a q tip to apply daconol inside the hollow end of the cut vine. I also dusted the end with captan.

Is there any thing I can do to stop bugs from making a home inside the hole at the end of the vine?

Will it close it self up, or will it remain a bug highway directly into my plant forever?

Should I stuff a pc. of foam in there?

7/15/2010 3:50:33 PM

British Columbia, Canada

The most effective way is to simply bury it.

-Jordan.

7/15/2010 4:05:02 PM

Germany

i thought at the leave nodes there is no hole.?
so they can walk only untill the next leave.

Michael

7/15/2010 5:42:52 PM

East Jordan, MI

I'd cut it back to the leaf node where there is no hollow spot. The hollow spot will get water in it (even if buried) and eventually rot, which could start some problems on down the vine. This is the way I terminate a vine. Then I spray with 6% peroxide, dust with captan, wait a few days until it is dry and then bury it. That's been working for me so far.

7/15/2010 8:56:20 PM

long Island

Here are the pictures:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=138764

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=138765

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=138766

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=138767

My "next leaf node" is a nice female flower.
Is there any chance that it might pollinate?
It looks like it might open tomorrow.

7/15/2010 10:23:29 PM

East Jordan, MI

I hear that some people terminate the vine at the pumpkin on purpose. So I don't think that is an issue either.

7/16/2010 7:49:18 AM

long Island

Anyone think I should trim that vine back to the node? I understand now that's the correct way to do it however,
Will it affect the potential pumpkin that's there?
Should I wait a few days to see if in fact the pollination took? The flower opened today.

7/16/2010 9:36:19 AM

long Island

cntryboy, I just reread your answer and I guess when you say "terminate at the pumpkin", You must mean directly at the last node that the pumpkin is on.

The more I think about it I think it makes a loot of sense to get rid of that last 5 inches of hollow vine.

Thanks cntryboy,

Wally, from the big apple

7/16/2010 10:00:22 AM

East Jordan, MI

Wally,
I just looked at your pic.

You still have the side vine at the pumpkin. That is as much as having the main continue past the pumpkin and you don't have to turn it as much to get it out of the way. If it were me I'd cut that extra 5 inches of the main off and go for it. If it don't take, then that side vine will become your new main. Turn it a little every day (in the late afternoon while the vine is still hot from the sun beating down on it all day) until you get it headed in the right direction and let it grow. Let the third stage on it be the new side vines.

7/16/2010 4:52:20 PM

long Island

Thanks CB. I pollinated the flower this morning. I will be trimming up that last 5 inches like you suggested.
I also have a 2nd possible female at the very next node behind the one in the picture. Its not over yet!
I think this is the hottest July we have had in New York for 10 years.

7/16/2010 10:37:57 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

Heck, that looks like a nice spot to set the pumpkin. Keep it from rooting at that node and you will likely have less stem stress problems. Guys grow like this all the time, they call it a "pitchfork" pattern.

7/16/2010 11:09:39 PM