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Grandview MO midwest baby!!!

My question is how important is a windblock and for how long until the plant doesnt need it anymore?
Also how much wind should I try to block?
Ive heard various things from family members that wind makes it strong. But the plant itself Is very Stout not wimpy looking at all. Nice thick stem and all that.

Like I said pure noob here and any feedback would help thanks.

4/28/2010 4:51:51 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

What stage are you...if the plant has laid down and you are securing it to the ground (plastic hangers etc.) maybe your ok...usually the plant will not secure itself down enough to avoid "windmilling" for a better expression...the tips of the vine never secure themselves enough...a good gust will pick it up and snap it off...that vine is done...never to be seen again...protect them out to where you want them to get to....after that you remove them for airflow...it's a line that everyone decides for themselves...some vine tips just like to stand up...keep them down with the U shaped hooks...nothing worse thenm seeing the vine snapped over cause of wind. specially when you know you coulda stopped it....certain things only the "Big Guy" controls you have to do the rest. GrowEmBig! Chuck

4/28/2010 5:11:53 PM

Grandview MO midwest baby!!!

OK so my plant has about 4 leaves that all full 3 more about half full and what looks like 6 or 7 more ready to burts forward it is starting to lean to one side I thought that the wind had pushed it over... lol I guess Its just trying to do its thing. Its leaning about 30 or 40 degrees to one side.
Should I try to anchor it in some places to train to to stay low?
Also I have heard that covering the vines wish dirt is helpfull, Should you wait until it has some length or can you start doing it as soon as it hits paydirt? (had to throw that in :-)

4/28/2010 6:21:17 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I use bamboo skewers to hold vine down until they get long enough to bury. You can get 100 for a buck or so at Walmart or Target cooking section. 2 skewers at each place they need to be held down. Some growers buy cheap plastic clothes hangers and cut the ends off for plastic staples. i also use some clear plastic or weed block fabric taped to 3 or 4 fiberglass electric fence posts around each plant for a windbreak. I am also in a deep tree-lined valley that stops a lot of wind. Still every so often I get a big gust that breaks a plant off. Once the vines get rooted down you can remove the windbreaks, but keep burying the vines so they root well.

4/28/2010 8:44:48 PM

Grandview MO midwest baby!!!

Ok thanks for that. Im in a small city but the wind here is quite fierce. We get regular gusts up to30 or even 45 mph sometimes. Tomorrow I am going to pound some stakes and use a thick canvas drop cloth cut up to block for a while.
Hopefully it survies tonight. I set out every big heavy thing I could around it to block. Including my big heavy 2 wheeld barrow. And a aquarium lol. Shoul do the job for tonight at least

4/28/2010 11:12:10 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Captain JS...most big box hardware stores (lowes, home depot, etc.) carry what is locally called silt fencing. It comes in a 100' roll, either 3' or 4' tall for approx $20. It is a woven (Nylon (I think) fabric, w/ wooden posts every 10'. This is what I use for a windbreak. I add steel tpost's at each wooden post for more support. I start small, using 20' or so to surround my young plant, add more as needed, as the plant grows. The 3' stuff, even if set near yer plant will not reduce yer sunlight a lot. Spring weather is unpredictable, and storms can end yer season quick. Better to do something, than be sorry ya dint!!! Peace, Wayne

4/29/2010 12:22:06 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

You haven't laid down yet...you want to let it down easy. with X style sticks...one under the vine to help support the weight going down and one over the to stop it from whipping up....Hey no one seaid this stuff was easy!!! LOL.
GrowEmBIg! get that sil;t fence...start out with a small space covered around the plant and expand out as the vine grows...you won't be sorry if you do.

4/29/2010 11:42:48 AM

Grandview MO midwest baby!!!

Windbreak was in place they I posted, and thank god for that. the night after we had a horiffic storm roll in. The plant took very little damage. I will post pictures tomorrow. Thanks all. We are very close to laying down. One is almost on the ground!!!

5/1/2010 3:18:45 AM