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How would you describe the root system of a Giant Pumpkin. I know as a baby the Giants have a tap root with many root hairs and secondaries. But when fully mature and pulled out of the ground there doesn't seem to be any tap root, there looks like 5 or more different tap roots. It almost looks fibrous. Also how long do think the roots go out from the stump? Thanks for your help, it's for a project

10/12/2005 2:04:08 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Kyle, this topic has had much coverage here on this site. Do a search for (root, roots, root depth, tap roots etc...) You will get many many hits and results which will assist you with your studies.

Here are a couple to get you going;

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=88928

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=8305

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=65

10/12/2005 2:23:16 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I recall Monty had some interesting thoughts/ pics in his diary this year regarding root growth and direction.

10/12/2005 3:23:27 PM

Netherlands

Good luck with your project, Kyle.

10/12/2005 3:49:15 PM

Thanks very much guys. I found an excelent link, that can be very useful to rookies. Here it is. Just scoll down a little and you find root systems.

http://www.uga.edu/vegetable/pumpkin.html#plantchar

It says most cucurbit plants have similar roots. Pumpkins tend to have tap roots of 6 ft, with 6-10 laterals, extending from 5 ft to 15 ft. Giants might be a little bigger than that yet!

10/12/2005 6:03:35 PM

Wallingford,CT

just for fun I decided to unearth a root from a leaf node this year. I followed it 148" befor it broke and I quit. Based on the diameter of the root at the point where it broke I have no doubt it went several feet more.

10/12/2005 6:48:03 PM

Now thats just a secondary root! Add the rest of them in, and add the main tap, and that's a crap load of roots! That's amazing. I'm sure there a lot bigger than we think!

10/13/2005 12:58:12 PM

Midwest

Bart:

Can I ask you something that may mean nothing to anyone? I was wondering how deep that leaf node root went down and did it travel 1) parallel to the vine or, 2) skewed to the vine? And, if it did travel skewed, do you think it was going in the direction of 1) better soil or, 2) moist soil?

Thanks,
Greg

10/13/2005 1:38:22 PM

Wallingford,CT

Greg, good questions. This particular root ran in the same direction as the main to the next leaf node and then turned away from the main and ran more tangentaly. It was never more than about 3 inches deep. It started a couple nodes before the pumpkin and ran past it. The soil in this patch is very uniform and I doubt there is much variation in the quality from one location to the next. It is a one plant patch with the main running diagonaly across the rectangle. Soil moisture probably doesn't change either. I think most of the rooting is superfical with fewer deep tap roots. Of course the tap roots would have been harder to follow....I don't like to dig holes.

10/13/2005 8:23:12 PM

Midwest

Bart:

I found an axle root going in the same direction as the vine but I had made a narrow trench along the path of the vine. I filled that trench with the manure/soil mixture so I assumed the root stayed relatively within the width of the trench because of the soil and, of course, I watered more along the vines all season. I do recall Monty saying his tap root travelled under the main. I plan to rip out my plant this weekend (I'm so lazy) and do some vine archaeology to see the direction of the tap root and secondary roots.
Thanks!

10/13/2005 11:06:39 PM