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Upa Creek, MO

Anybody ever have this happen? I only have 3 secondaries (total on both sides)and the plant is about 14 feet long. Others popped and then stopped. Some never got out of the budding stage.

The main is growing over a foot a day and there is plenty of nitrogen since I put down blood meal. Could it be because of my late start (beginning of June) and they can't tollerate the heat as they would have in May?

Any help or input is appreciated. Thx

6/23/2012 4:46:04 PM

Huntsville Texas

Under identical conditions some of my vines produce many strong secondaries; others of different genetics produce almost none; environmental conditions may affect it as well, so there may be something you can do that others can help you with, just wanted to let you know my observations that make it appear to be at least partly genetic

6/23/2012 5:05:20 PM

Buffalo, New York

my first set are 8' long this year, next 2 stunted at 2', and some are 3-4' and growing slow....I wouldnt be surprised if they stop also.

My main is growing great and my leaves looks beautiful so I dont think it is a N problem like I have read.

Maybe im missing some other nutrient.

I dont blame my problem on the environment, i blame it on the grower.

6/23/2012 6:05:39 PM

Ohio

When did u put down the blood meal? Blood meal breaks down very slow with time. I had the exact same problem last year with 4 plants not producing strong secondaries.I found out from a soil test that my NItrogen was really low and that i had to add 25lbs per 1000 sq ft.

I added over 100 lbs total to my patch this spring but still had to use Calcium NItrate because the bloodmeal I added wouldnt be broken down in time for what my plants really need to get started .(not enough time to break down)
Whats your N readings? And when did u add the bloodmeal?

6/23/2012 6:43:28 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I've got a plant like that as well Luke. I think it has one good secondary on one side, and three on the other. My other plant, nearby, is producing nice secondaries for the most part. I've wondered if this is genetic, or a nutrient deficiency. For now I just take what the plants give me. I see pics, in the diaries, where it looks like all the secondaries are coming along nicely on many people's plants. I usually have at least a few missed secondaries on each of my plants.

6/23/2012 11:43:11 PM

Johnston, Iowa

I'm experiencing the same thing Luke. The first 3 - 4 secondaries on each side are growing like crazy, but the rest seem to be petering out with small leaves. I'll train the stronger secondaries to grow back around to fill up the area

6/24/2012 12:28:59 AM

valparaiso, in

The first four secondaries on the left side are doing great. The first two on the right side got burnt. My fault on that one. The next two are not growing as fast. I am thinking that it is genetics more than anything else, but then you never know. I just plan on letting the secondary vines on the 5th secondary grow out to make up for the lost vines. That make any sense?

6/24/2012 12:55:15 AM

Bethlehem CT

Last year mine did the same thing, so to compensate I trained the few secondaries I did have around in a spider pattern. Also I hit the plant with urea, that really got the plant going. I did it right at pollination time too. No problems with pollinating.

6/24/2012 8:30:00 AM

Upa Creek, MO

I didn't know that about blood meal, Brooks. I put it down a few weeks ago. N readings were low, but I did the test early before it was warm, and I hear N levels change daily especially as it heats up. I am suspecting it might be Nitrogen.

I don't believe it is genetics because this plant was a cross of 2 plants grown in my patch last year under higher heat conditions. Also, other growers have some pretty nice plants growing with the same seed.

Thanks for the help!

6/24/2012 9:41:17 AM

Nottingham, UK

Luke, similar to JRobinson, If I look down the main vine of my 1304 as a timeline, I can see that the first two sets are chugging along at 8', then a set or two of runts at maybe 2' and then a few sets at 4-5' etc and so on. I wonder if its somthing to do with environmental factors and different phases of the growth. For me I am sure they will all pick up.

With regards to blood meal, mine went down in early March and I applied a microorganism based product as its the microorganisms that breakdown the blood meal (and other stuff) and make it available for the plant. Sure you know this already so please forgive me.

Best of luck with those secondaries.

6/25/2012 6:49:32 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

I noticed that the later secondaries are looking like they will be nice ones, on my secondary-challenged plant. It seems that my plants usually outgrow the poor secondary production, and the later later secondaries grow normally. I'm guessing it's an environmental issue.

6/25/2012 7:11:46 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Do you have a partially shaded patch by chance? I get 4-5 direct hours of sun a day and I think that plays a huge factor.

6/25/2012 8:15:49 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I get some morning and evening shade. But more direct sun than you do Luke. I should time it tomorrow, if I think of it.

6/26/2012 1:54:25 AM

Bethlehem CT

Luke, I think you nailed it with the shade. I am no expert on pumpkins but I do know a lot about plants in general. Plants grown in the sun are always bushier and fuller than those grown in the shade. It is just the way it is.
A couple analogies; If I had a hedge growing in the shade I would have a heck of a time getting it to fill in properly. Or, when you find a young sapling in the woods, Is it nice and bushy with a big crown? Most likely it is a single stem growing up looking for light.

6/26/2012 7:15:42 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Thanks Doug and BM. I agree. I went out last night and looked at the 3 secondaries I have going and noticed the way the leaves on the main grew that they were more exposed since growing down a mound. As a test, I staked a few leaves over where 3 secondaries started and stopped so they will be directly exposed to the morning light I get.

And last year, I only had secondaries go on all 3 plants on the north side. South and west there are giant trees and north and east is exposed. I am going to have 1 cut back this winter so it will give me an extra 1-2 hours of light or up to 5-7 total depending on the month.

6/26/2012 8:57:25 AM

Central Minnesota

I do not believe it has anything to do with shade, but more to do with overall plant vigor/health and your soil. If you have a vigorous plant with a large root system and is getting fed properly (food and water-not to much) you won't have this issue very often. I seem to stuggle with this each year on a few plants. This year I had it on two plants when the weather was extremely wet. But after some foliar feedings, dryer weather, soil that isn't saturated, even the secondaries that had stalled kicked in again and are growing again. Saturated soil creates a lot of problems with nutrient uptake and is a small piece of this puzzle.

6/26/2012 9:42:59 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Luke,
I estimate my pumpkin plants get about 9-10 hours of direct sunlight this time of the year. I didn't actually track it, but I think it's a fairly close estimate.

6/28/2012 12:08:10 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Playing pin the tail on the donkey, I tried some 21-0-0 water soluble ammonium sulfate, and within a few days all the secondaries bounced back and are growing well even in the heat. The side of the vine facing the woods that gets no real direct sunlight only popped one. It did the same last year. Flag pattern is better than nothing. Thanks for all the input.

6/29/2012 3:07:22 PM