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Dover, DE

I got a "rookie" question to throw out to all of u.
I see some folks "bury" thier main and secondaries under a little topsoil. Does this mean I don't need to use stakes ?

is burying better then staking ?
opinions are welcome!

Thank You!

#1

12/7/2009 9:45:22 AM

El Paso TX.

I'm also new so could be wrong but I believe that burying might reduce the need for staking but not sure if it would eliminate the need - the vines are buried to get more root growth where the staking is to keep the vine from being twisted by the wind - So while burying the vine will help avoid shifting due to wind it is probably not enough to completely secure the vine to the ground and a high wind could probably still unbury the vine and twist it(depending on how heavy of wind you get and how deeply you bury and how well the roots have taken hold.)
So I would probably do a combination of both still !

12/7/2009 10:39:14 AM

Cincinnati,OH

Always stake at every leaf node even if the vine is buried.

12/7/2009 11:19:18 AM

Dover, DE

Thanks Ron/JD

12/7/2009 1:14:12 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Probably depends on whee you are located. If you are on top of a hill with no windbreaks, then staking along with burying is a good idea. If you are in a deep valley with lots of trees for windbreaks, like my patch, then staking isn't as critical if you bury the vines. Still I stake them at first until the vines get longer and rooted down.

12/7/2009 1:30:09 PM

Western PA

Once your plant starts to take off, the vine can grow 8" or more a day. It will take a while for the tap roots to grow and act as anchors , so you must stake or the wind WILL flip your vine over and then a split in the vine will develope (Happened to me last year). Those leaves can grow very large and act like a sail. You would be better off having a few leaves break off in a storm, than having the vines get a twist in them. It could be game over if that happens.
Start staking as soon as the main lies out onto the ground.
You will start to bury after the main reaches 6 foot or so. Their are different techniques for burying ,Some people dig a small trench out in front of the main and simply guide it in and then cover with the soil. And some people shovel soil onto the vine several inches high.
Like JDFan said," a combination is necessary.
I would probably say to leave the stakes in all season so you don't disrupt any roots. Just my 2 cents.
Lee

12/7/2009 3:15:45 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Stake & bury. Pull the stakes as the rootlets dig in.

12/7/2009 3:48:00 PM