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central Missouri

How do you guys do this? I thinks it was Gordon who had a great example in his diary. Yes, it was his July 28 entry. It looked as though he did it in a matter of minutes. My vines this year seemed too brittle to do this. So could those of you who have done this give a detailed explaination? Kind of a vine bending for dummies sort of thing?
Thanks,
Mark

12/13/2005 3:10:51 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Not exactly, as I haven't found a full 90 degrees to be necessary. From my limited experience I would suggest two ideas...1) Slowly...a little each day over several days. 2) Don't try it first thing in the morning...wait until the sun warms everything up and makes the vines more flexible...just like warming up before strenuous workout. Also remember that the vine is going to be raised up off of the ground, as the fruit grows, and will need some support. Lack of vine support was this rookies biggest mistake this year. Peace, Wayne

12/13/2005 7:53:54 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Do it on a HOT day between 12 Noon & 1PM when the sun is strong. Use lots of crossing sticks as well as straight vertical ones on the outside of the curve to hold it in place.

12/13/2005 9:49:35 PM

Applegate, Oregon

I bend my vines around bamboo sticks with a short remnant of pvc pipe so that the bend is less severe. Also during a warm part of the day, over a couple of days.

12/14/2005 8:03:46 AM

canal winchester ohio

I never thought of the pvc, great idea Dale.

12/14/2005 8:57:55 AM

ENGLAND

Not exactly the Stelts 90 but how about trying to ensure that the female is positioned on the outside curv of an S. Maybe not as radically bent as an S but more like a ~ this will help to keep the stem end from tearing the Stem from the Vine once the shoulders start bulking up, especially with short stemed fruit.

Just My 2 Pennies Worth.

Regards
Mike

12/14/2005 10:30:57 AM

Utah

Mark,

I do the Stelts 90° all at once ... Wayne, Tremor and Dale have the right ideas. Do them at the hottest part of the day. I usually do mine in the late afternoon - like 3-5 pm.
Move the vine gently and slowly- but it doesn't take long ... a less than a minute.
Use lots of supports ... more is better than less. I Use the plastic 1/2 hanger hoops but PCV sounds like a better idea. You can see the hangers in this picture ...
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=39522
you can remove many of the supports a day or two after.

some vines move very easily other are more brittle - and maybe they will take two or three different moves over several days.
after a while you can tell which ones are flexible and which one take a little more finesse.
I have found it easier to move the vines than the pumpkins ... although I still move some pumpkins now and then, to get a better position on them. I move the pumpkins when the are basketball size or larger. Move them in the hottest part of the day also.
Scott Armstrong taught me how to do the Selts 90° a few years back ... I think he learned it from Dave himself on a Ohio patch tour.
If you have any more questions ask away.
Gordon

12/15/2005 10:28:04 AM