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Germany

Hi all,
that´s probably a question to the more experienced in the AG community, who have already tried to grow AG plants in various styles. For a limited patch size (let´s say 400 sqft) and plant growth in a rectangular style (one main, and secondaries of same length to either side) I was wondering whether a longer or a wider rectangular growth would be better, e.g., (1) wider growth: 13 ft long main from stump to fruit and 12 ft long secondaries to either side (amounts to 312 sqft) and additional 88 sqft past the fruit for some further growth or (2) longer growth: 16 ft long main from stump to fruit and 10 ft long secondaries to either side (amounts to 320 sqft) and additional 80 sqft past fruit for additional growth. The essential question is, whether a larger number of short secondaries would be better than a smaller number of long secondaries, with exactly the same area covered with secondaries from stump to fruit.
Thanks alot to all of you who will post their opinions.

9/2/2011 6:17:17 AM

Joliet, IL

I switched to a rectangle with longer secondaries 3 years ago to get more plant in front of the pumpkin. My plants are roughly 36' wide by 21' long due to tight spacing and limited room. Normally I curve the main as it gets closer to the edge and try to set a pumpkin between 13-17 feet and use the curve by kicking the vine out a little at first on the same side a prime female at 15' and then make the curve and use it for vine clearance for the prime female. I then run the main parellel to the last row of secondaries at 21' and get an extra 18' in that direction in case of aborts like this year and need to keep trying further out on the main. At that point it is hard to make another s curve so I deadhead the main at the pumpkin when further out than 18 or 20 feet. Secondaries will stack up when you make the curve on the inside of the curve when you make the turn so some will need to be pruned to make room and I choose to prune those furthest away from the set pumpkin in that curved area for late season secondaries off the main closest to the pumpkin.

9/2/2011 9:10:10 AM