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Fairfield Ct

My plant has stopped growing. Main vine apporox 13 feet. First 2 secondaries approx 10 feet. All with first female flowers just appearing. Plant has slowed over the past week. Found it wilting for short period, put on misters and shaded new growth. Now has completly stopped except for secondaries still growing slow. All growth is dwarfed, and looks like end of the year growth. This happened last year and I lost the plant, same size. Altered soil with plenty of organic matter, and growth was resonable until this point. Color is good, no signs of anything wrong. Does anybody have any suggestions or ideas?

7/2/2011 9:39:43 PM

Ohio

Wyatt, I know your going to hate to hear this, but with out a soil sample or plant tissue sample there is no way to tell.

What was your spring soil test readings for last years plant and this years plant?

7/2/2011 10:01:26 PM

Fairfield Ct

No test. Last year the soil did not hold moisture this year I am trying to stay on top of that. I relize this question is wide open just looking for something. Anything, too much work so far to have this one go, tomorrow I will trim secondaries I hate to do this if the main does not start growing again. I have another plant next to this that is doing fine so far. Last year this was not the case and I attributed the lost of both plants to heat stress. Although it has not been as hot as last year the day the plant showed sighns of wilt it was reasonably hot and dry. Th plant had slowed growth prier to this day but seeing it flagging slightly, reminded me of last years disaster I have been growing giants for many years and have concurred many problems this is a first I don't want to make it a second. Will do soil test next week. Other plants growing in sam soil are doing well.

7/2/2011 10:54:47 PM

Ohio

Im in the same boat as you kinda, although my spring soil tests was good, Im having trouble with 4 plants to where the secondaries are out about 5 or or 6 ft to where they just quit growing almost to nothing, the tips of my econdaries have shrunken down and are starting to cluster with flowers.

I have never had this problem before this time of the year, even though I have a pumpkin set on all of my plants I have never had that many plants have that many secondaries just stop growing. ( I usally have had one or two secondaries do this on each plant but never all of them do it.)

Right now Im just guessing and trying a few things hoping my secondaries will kick back into gear and hope i get lucky, and I know the only way Im going to find out the real problem is by sending a tissue sample in, but by that time when I get the results back I think it will be to late to do anything about it, but I do need to send one in to see what my problem is so this doesnt happen next year.

7/3/2011 5:27:32 AM

slow secondarys give it some nitrogen blood meal tossed under leafs slowly or light handed in 3-4 day intervals
watch vines for action . repeat if there not raising and getting growing -but dont be a( more on) if not need to much can be just as bad

7/3/2011 8:56:09 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Check out Jeremy Robinson's diary from 2010. He had the exact same thing. He sent in a late soil test and it was very low nitrogen. Maybe try what Don said. Good luck.

7/3/2011 9:00:48 AM

Back Yard

To Don Young:

You Rock!! I for one really appreciate your help with the message boards!

Thank you for all your sharing!

7/3/2011 9:07:14 AM

Fairfield Ct

secondaris are still growing slow. main has stoppd compleatly. thinking of cutting main back 3 feet or so plant is very green. Soil has alot of composted cow and horse manuar cut now or wait?

7/3/2011 11:27:55 AM

you had any big rains since adding this manure and compost?
you could have had plenty of n -then a women robs you blind and cleans you out of it without you checking the bank account( soil test) you cant just see green and think its plenty nitrogen-mother nature can throw mean curve ball

7/3/2011 1:57:43 PM

Joliet, IL

crazy weather pattern over the past couple weeks from midwest to all the way out east could have thrown the uptake out of whack a bit. the changes from hot to that cooler than normal heavy rainy cloudy period could be the culprit. nitrogen is tricky and doesn't uptake well in cool wet soils. the continual cloud coverage for many of those days probably didn't help either. i think don young's solution is right on as long is it is not over done to upset pollinations.

7/3/2011 2:01:55 PM

Ohio

Ill try that Don, thanks!

I was holding back on my nitrogen because of all the pollination's I have been doing, and your exactly right, my secondaries started slowing down after we had a tone of rain here last month and right before I started pollinating my females.

thanks again bud!

7/3/2011 10:21:52 PM

Waterville, Ohio

Cool nights could be adding to this, where I'm at highs are in the low 90's with lows hitting the low 60's high 50's. Lately it seems my plants are doing the same thing. Than again maybe I'm just not noticing the growth and wishing there were more..

7/9/2011 7:50:06 PM