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United States

I came home tonight to find the growing end of my main vine was cracked, laying on the ground. It's still attached by the bottom, but 3/4th of the stem diameter is severed. It was growing up into the air, and a guess it got too much weight.

Since it's the main vine it likely that a new leaf node will emerge, and keep the vine growing, or am I screwed?

See the attached photos. The red lined photo is the main vine that's currently laying on the ground.

https://ibb.co/zNwtfPZ
https://ibb.co/f9qd8xs
https://ibb.co/P52TXmY

7/9/2023 8:04:33 PM

Lakewood, WA

Sorry to see your vines crashed! I've done worse and they've been fine. Keep on growing and see what happens. You might want to apply some sulfur powder to the damaged areas and put a fan on it until the damaged areas dry out.

Vines tips standing up usually indicate too much nitrogen. If they are REALLY standing up, that's Your Sign that you have wayyy too much nitrogen. You can flush out some of the excess nitrogen in your soil by watering the heck out of it and make sure you're not adding anything that contains nitrogen.

Good luck Andre!

7/9/2023 10:58:11 PM

Syracuse, NY

I would say to not necessarily water like crazy to flush out nitrogen without being sure to water IN after the damage is in repair any other ferts or elements that may be flushed out also in the process, although Nitrogen is probably the easiest to amend in either direction, IMHO. You could merely water like normal and as DSG says, not add anything that contains high N in the interim -
nor ongoing afterward in any high quantity.
I, personally would pull on and break off the previous main vine, like a check from a check book or cut it from underneath with a Stanley-Style box cutter and also very closely the male flower, leaf stalk and that's it -
Only the 'New Main' and the tendril would remain; You also have a female nearby and a root under neath - Great Job! If that pumpkin is at like 15'-plus, maybe terminate the vine at it and
be sure to look into that as well...
I'd then place a bamboo stake into the crook of the tendril and do my best to use that leverage with securing it - along with holding and twisting the vine to rotate it toward the New Main (left side of plant) or else it'll be the same thing over again in a few days if the problem persists; I'd also place a rounded object such as a water-filled, flat-sided jug for the New Main to rest upon until it perhaps bends enough to reach the ground. I would leave it all open to observe any further breakage - at least until the proverbial 'dust settles'. 'IMHO'. eric g

7/10/2023 5:36:14 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Cut the main since it is broken, and let the next strongest secondary act as the new main. You then grow the terts off the new main to act as the new secondaries. It has been done quite a bit with "big" success.

7/10/2023 8:18:19 AM

New Castle, Indiana

A break of the main vine isn't completely uncommon. As smallmouth said, you can use one of secondaries as the new main. Fortunately, the plant isn't smart enough to know the difference and will grow it just the same...lol.

7/10/2023 10:29:20 AM

United States

So you think cutting it off with a razor is the best way to proceed?

7/10/2023 7:48:43 PM

United States

The hole left behind is about the diameter of a quarter. Should I bury it, or just leave it fully open? It seems like an invitation for trouble.

7/10/2023 8:46:49 PM

Grittyville, WA

Open and dry. These plants are good at healing themselves, but keep an eye on it. I assume the female flower is not one you are interested using for your "keeper"? That would be a safe bet. But no worries, you can grow nice pumpkins on secondaries...

7/11/2023 12:16:10 AM

Syracuse, NY

I think I and you might be thankful that what appeared to be a crack in the "New Main' (the secondary extending from this junction in question, now just new main) is micro-thin/skinny debris instead, so, you could yes, cut the male flower stalk and leave 1/4 inch of it, cut the old main and leave a half inch of that and
***skip it now on the actual large leaf***; I'd cut each of these with the top of each extending over the bottom of each like a canopy - Simply put, the top of any cut will overhang slightly.

Have a look here, please, for editing I did to your original picture - don't sue me, lol---:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=339552

Just cut the old main, the tendril in HALF and the little male flower stalk where crossed by yellow lines and described; Since the old main vine leaf is OK and may provide some balance that is useful in lowering the new main, we'll keep it, I do suppose.
***I'd not use it for any major force as it IS attached to the damaged area.***
The tendril I'd remove HALF of because it may stop the new main from dropping freely.
So, old main, male flower, (tendril X 1/2) get cut off with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of each remaining. Seems that using that other leaf on the right and maybe slight force down on the tendril will cause everything to literally fall into place - Just be ultra-careful in all aspects and if this happened and you did not see it for a month, I'll bet that it'd heal just fine and if I were to be concerned about it, which would be very good, I'd twist and place a foam earplug into it and not look back; My kitchen sink's faucet had a hole it for no reason and I did just that! It looks meant-to-be! I hope this helps you and good luck! eric g

7/11/2023 12:18:16 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Leave it open and let it dry and scar like Little Kins said. I coat it with Daconil too.

Don't over think this, cut it with any knife. That main is worthless and you need to get the "new" main going.

7/11/2023 8:31:38 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

If you do whatever Pumpkinpal wrote, you might have a pumpkin by December of 2024.

7/11/2023 8:33:04 AM

Syracuse, NY

Yet another oppressor. Err, no - one of the originals.
I have been saying EXACTLY what you have, EVEN BEFORE YOU AND someone else did, except more elaborately.
What is 18 months divided by 120 days?
Hmmm...that's gonna be in Patons' clones' age territory and that 2350
Long Live the Clones project in pumpkin years by then, lol.
And it will blow anyone here's away!
Special Christmas Weighoff '24.

PS---Look at this website a minute more than the usual 6 hours a day and tell me it isn't
ALL ABOUT overthinking it. No, don't, because I certainly disagree.

Funny - My hands are dirty here from working on my plants AND my car, lol---eg

7/11/2023 1:54:03 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Stop feeding your broke down Prius Miracle Grow and it'll work. ---- SM

7/14/2023 11:14:33 PM

Syracuse, NY

Man, you just get funnier by the minute, but I'm not wasting all night on you. Tomorrow's another day. Oops - that's in nine minutes. Well, still...eg

7/14/2023 11:52:14 PM