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Western PA

I have a plant that the main broke about 3/4 of the way through. It happenened when i was on vacation. I have not pollinated anything on the main yet. The main is still growing very good and strong beyond the break.

Has anyone pollinated on the main in a similar situation , ( beyond break ) ?
What was the outcome of the fruit if so ?

I am concerned that the pumpkin beyond the break would be deformed possibly, from not getting even liqued flow through the vine, just speculating, i really don't know.

I will pollinate anything on the main for sure. I will just watch the developing fruit and see what happens i guess. I doo have 2 side vine fruits going as well.

6/19/2014 11:07:40 AM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

back in 2009 I lost a main vine at the last two feet. I cut it off back to the best secondary and retrained that vine as the new main....grew 1240 pounds off that secondary. Kinks, twists, etc plant will figure it out, but if running on just a few strands...might they snap down the line if the vine moves when growing a pumpkin on it and that area is brittle already?

6/19/2014 12:08:38 PM

South of Buffalo

In 2012 I cracked the main on my 1079 in early june, about 1/4 through. The plant grew my 998.5 on a set past the crack and on the side of the main opposite the crack. the area of the crack scarred heavily into a big knot. I believe that I lost some weight from it. 3/4in is a big crack and taking a secondary as the new main may be a better way to go even it pushes your pollination date.

6/19/2014 1:16:44 PM

South of Buffalo

The pumpkin was white but I don't think I can blame that on the crack

6/19/2014 1:17:41 PM

South Hero, VT

I've done that a couple/three times, splinted the break with popsicle sticks and duct tape, and waited to see what would happen. My experience has been the fruit on the main will be smaller than expected from the parent seed.

And yes, the crack scarred heavily into a big knot in all cases, probably cutting down on the flow of nutrients.

6/19/2014 7:24:03 PM

Holton, Michigan

Yes I will agree with vtsteve. I tried one on a main that got cracked 3/4 threw. The vine grew nice and heeled with a big not. But the pumpkin was misshaped and smaller than expected.

6/20/2014 10:49:46 AM

Lodi, California

maybe you can still tie the main vine back up? just get some nursery tape or even better, shoe string, and tie the vine back up. that's just an idea but it should help it scar over.

6/20/2014 12:23:49 PM

Hinckley MN

Think of the vine as a hollow bundle of straws. If you break 3/4s of the straws, the wound may scab over, but you are still trying to suck fluid through 25% of the area there should be.

6/20/2014 3:26:13 PM

Marshfield, Ma, USA

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=168588

This is an example of what may happen if you grow the cracked main. Fortunately, it still managed to grow a decent sized pumpkin.

6/21/2014 8:01:03 PM