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Lodi, California

Hi,
Recently I've noticed some pencil vines(thin vines with slowly growing tips and a high concentration of male flowers) on my 1421 Jutras* Squash. I've had these before but would like to hear what you guys have to say about them as far as treatment/prevention etcetera. I have noticed that they tent to occur on one side of the plant perpendicular to the main vine. I am guessing that this is simply a grower error that correlates with soil moisture fluxuation, which I have learned through limited experiance and prior consultation. Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

7/25/2015 1:38:14 AM

San Diego

I got a few of those on my pumpkin plant. I noticed that the spaces between the small leaves on the growing tip stretch out slightly and stop altogether. Nothing else will grow on that vine tip except all the flowers that would normally have been 1 foot apart, so it ends up looking like a mass of flowers. I started feeding the plant micronutrients because my pH was high, and calcium because my phosphorus and potassium are too high. The rest of the vines came out fine.

It rained and flooded my patch for a few days and I notice some of those stunted vines started growing again although the were permanently dwarfed because of how they started. Now I know to water more.

7/25/2015 2:50:53 AM

Duxbury,Ma.

I have the same, they produce no real
roots. So i cut them off, kinda like a sucker on a tomato plant.

7/25/2015 6:56:12 AM

Muddy Waters

my guess is .1Your still rotilling around your plant?
2. Your not watering out far enough plant needs more water?
3.Your low on ferts P & K maybe even N

Whats your soil test suggest??

7/25/2015 7:14:07 AM

Lodi, California

No, I am not rototilling ahead of the plant currently. I am low on just about everything as I have been focusing more on pest and disease prevention than fertilizing and I am growing in a new patch. I will be fertilizing with rtx 3-3-18, some 0-0-26, and a micronutrient blend as well as using more water. Thanks.

7/25/2015 11:54:16 AM