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Pembroke, Ma

Do I need to do anything special to get them to laydown right? They are just kinda hanging half way bent over. We've been getting a lot of wind and rain and I'd hate for something to happen. I was just letting nature take it's course but maybe I need to help them down and start traing them?

6/4/2010 4:15:10 AM

Western PA

If you have the time to look through some diaries, you will see a lot of people go through the same problem you are having. Most people use bambo skewers or some kind of small diameter stakes to SLOWLY push them down. It may take you a week to do this. The stakes should be in a X pattern right over the main vine. Do this during the heat of the day, NOT in the morning, (vines are more brittle).Every day push it down a little farther.Make sure there isn't a leaf or tendril on the bottom side acting as a kickstand. If so prune it off.
How long is the main vine ?
Lee

6/4/2010 7:27:51 AM

Western PA

Post a pic if you can.

6/4/2010 7:28:44 AM

Navarre,OH

My marrow was doing this same thing. I put a shovel full of dirt on the opposite side I wanted it to grow. Started to lay down within two days of doing this. Make sure the dirt is against the stump.

6/4/2010 9:48:17 AM

3 acre corner in Whittaker,Mi USA (faulkner5@msn.com)

I did the same thing with the skewers gradually bringing the main down and pruning of the "kickstand" leaf and they laid down real nice after about 3 to 4 days. Now I just need to do my ANTI-rain dance to get the jungle monsoons to quit trying to drowned my patch out!!

6/5/2010 11:56:14 PM

Ottawa, Canada

I didn't even have to use skewers, simply tilted the plant a tiny bit with a small block of wood I found lying around. After two days, the plant wall completely laid down

6/8/2010 12:50:00 PM

Pembroke, Ma

Plant is down and looking good. Thatks for all of the advice!

6/10/2010 12:41:17 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

The other consideration here is to not let it lay down too fast...support underneath is important also...if you have 2ft of plant pointing skyward...and it lays down all at once, main vine damage is almost guaranteed!!! At each point that I put top pressure on, I also put some type of support under the vine!!! Dirt, styro block, another set of x'd skewers...something!!! Peace, Wayne

6/12/2010 1:22:55 AM