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Maryland

My giant pumpkins are well on their way this year and are up and sprouting. My pumpkin seed from the largest pumpkin (1700+) turns out to have three baby leaves. Ive researched and found that this is a 1 in 46 or so occurrence and is a little rarer in curcubits. I have other normal looking plants that are of smaller genetic stature but I am wondering if I should pursue the tricot? Benefits? Drawbacks?

4/23/2015 1:55:09 PM

Western NY

Have a backup ready: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/DisplayPhoto.asp?pid=5022

They went ribbon vine right from the start for me.

4/23/2015 3:51:38 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Agree with Andy. The two I have had resulted in one massive ribbon/tornado, and a double vined pain in the butt

4/24/2015 7:38:36 AM

Maryland

thank you! I have seen pictures of the ribbon vine and double vines but could someone possibly summarize why these vines are a pain/bad to have?

4/24/2015 10:28:38 AM

Colorado

Ribbon/flat are caused when the plant doesnt space the leaf node normally. They are formed by a doubling tripling , quadrupling and worse of leafs where theres normally one. If you have three leaves coming off together you also have three vines fused. The vine itself is prone to split lenghwise. If I have a plant going multiple on me I'll terminate the tip of the main early and use a seconday(normal) as the main. I try to avoid going with them but have grown out many over the years. Ive grown some good fruit on those plants. The phenomenon seems correlated with aggressive plants.

4/24/2015 2:13:11 PM

simpson,KS

my 1700 also is 3 leaved and does look quite aggressive . growing fast

4/24/2015 9:57:53 PM

Maryland

hmm. sad to see that this doesn't bear well. thanks for the insight! I wonder if you kept the extra leaves pruned and had an extra thick vine that didn't split, that it would get better nutrient delivery throughout the plant? Pumpkin evolution? haha

4/24/2015 11:11:00 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

You can save a plant with a double vine, by pruning one. A ribbon vine can not saved. A ribbon vine is flat and looks exactly like a ribbon wire for a computer. It is early enough I would start a back up.

4/25/2015 9:40:40 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

What most people are calling a ribbon vine is an aggresive double. In my experience a ribbon vine is one vine that does not segment, yet has multiple vascular systems and leaf nodes.

4/25/2015 9:44:29 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Thank you for that clarification Linus. I do also agree it is early enough to do a backup and not mess with whatever you have going. Like Pap says, we aren't trying to grow salad, and nothing is worse than having an 800 square foot plant that won't produce!

4/25/2015 10:05:48 AM