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Newcastle, CA

So hypothetically I get my plant in the ground, I have prepped my planting site (roughly a 6x6 area) and plan to prep the rest of the patch as the plant grows. How far ahead of the main vine are the roots? Does anyone grow this way? I realize the best would be to prep the entire patch all at once. Does anyone loosen up, broadfork or double dig the soil out in front of the growing plant?

3/22/2020 3:37:49 AM

Syracuse, NY

others will chime in and of course it'll be farther, but, out to the edges of the plant in ALL directions PLUS >= 3 feet and you NEED walking boards for at least anywhere inside that dimension and up to others' suggestons - so, if you could surround the plant with walking boards, they'd have to cover that perimeter of the plant with at least 3 feet of 'no compaction of the roots' protection, and between the vines, of course, also---
i would NEVER use anything *skinnier than a 16-inches X 4-feet-long or *thinner than X 5/8-inch thick PLYWOOD walking board for this purpose, because the idea is to spread out your weight as much as possible, and too skinny doesn't do that and too thin doesn't either - maybe my next GF...naaah, better not say that, lol---eg

3/22/2020 6:06:24 AM

Syracuse, NY

front page of this site,
Site Search window,
type in or paste:

ahead of the plant

'Enter' or hit 'GO' and there is a great deal of reading about these topics - see the first listed post by RyanH and others if you have time, but read ALL the ones from halfway down-on (discussions) and you'll be all set. and I too, lol---eg

3/22/2020 6:22:27 AM

Partlow,Va

I have dug roots when vine burryng six or seven feet out ahead of the plant. The roots are farther out on the first few secondaries that are closest to the stump than on the main. But for the most part not digging within three feet is okay. Pruning some crazy fast roots may actually help? Experiment this year and when then plant is really running fast turn over some soil far away and work your way in and find them.
When moving my boards, if it has been wet and the soil has compacted under my boards, I will just loosen the soil with a fork but not turn it as to not break the few roots that have made it out that far.

3/22/2020 7:44:08 AM

Central NY

The reason for prepping the whole area is for even amendment distribution but no reason you couldnt work your way ahead of the plant...it’s like rule 17 in the handbook- “ if you see roots....don’t go any farther”....it’s harder that way because your time will be needed elsewhere when you will have to loosen that soil up ahead of the plant though....we make ours nice and fluffy...the whole bed...it’s like tucking in new born babies all season long...fun that way...other way?...not as much fun and I wasn’t as into it...good luck, were getting close!!!

3/22/2020 12:11:34 PM

central Nc

I thought I told you to knock off the fluffy thing?

-fluffy

3/22/2020 12:21:35 PM

Central NY

It’s actually John hopfener....

3/22/2020 12:23:59 PM

Syracuse, NY

sooo, i could come up with several things, but my guess is that working ahead of the plant is 99% raking off weeds, throwing down fertilizer and...
holy crap --- make a sled as wide as the plant is gonna get, with a 4-foot-high wall of plywood along the front; attach whatever ropes you have to the two ends of it and at least one in the middle so it can be pulled along as the plant grows without flexing; pro-seed to make 1-inch or bigger holes into it across the board (ha ha ) to apply fertilizer through, whether liquid or granular, (per a trench along the holes, perhaps) and the wall across the front of this is to guard the plant against overspray when you Roundup the weeds out front that'll soon be covered over and flattened by the sled, which'll need a rounded front end on it, maybe it'll be 4' X 20'-25' X 5/8" total size --- every few days, move it a certain few feet, helpfully weeding, flattening and fertilizing. holy crap. how can i sleep now? eg

3/23/2020 3:01:14 AM

Here is 1 link and if you read this guys' diary for 2016 and newer you might give you a few tips. I think this guy might have an idea what he is talking about.


http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=255980

3/23/2020 7:55:41 AM

Where's the edit button!

3/23/2020 7:58:05 AM

Newcastle, CA

Thanks for the info... and I will get to work on the sled as soon as I get done prepping the whole area... ;)

3/23/2020 9:14:23 AM

Penryn CA

Great info - Link to RW Diary is very interesting - Is he cutting every other secondary after the pumpkin sets on the main?

3/29/2020 12:47:10 PM

That is more than I can tell you. But if you read his diaries he says he gets lots of emails from people asking questions.

3/29/2020 4:49:54 PM

Central NY

Yea he is penry!!...

3/29/2020 6:45:53 PM