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Charlotte, NC

I was thinking about things the other day while burying a new section of vine on my "Hail Mary" pumpkin vine. Doesn't burying vines in an environment that has heat trapping qualities, i.e. dark soil, not a good idea? In light of this past season's crazy heat and no rain I wonder how this may have accelerated the decline of my vines, if at all? Next year, since space is limited, I am considering trying a white fabric to bury my vines under. I will still make the soil available for tap roots, leaving the vines between the ground and the fabric.
Thought, ideas, opinions?

9/26/2010 6:15:03 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Fabric sounds like a place for bugs to hide..just a thought.

9/26/2010 9:36:44 PM

Charlotte, NC

I tend to agree with you, in theory. But to play devil's advocate here, isn't having the dirt directly open to the air a more direct way for bugs to enter the patch soil, and thus actually provide a less safe environment? Also, regarding pumpkin vines, aren't more pests drawn to the leaves and stem rather than the main? Wouldn't having a barrier to keep SVB larvae from entering the ground be useful?

9/27/2010 5:41:34 PM

Charlotte, NC

^

9/28/2010 7:54:16 AM