From

Location

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Date Posted

Belmont, NH

Is there a disadvantage to planting in a flag pattern vs the traditional Christmas tree pattern? If the square footage ends up the same basically, wouldn't the imput to the fruit be the same? Are most, or all, of the largest fruit grown in the Christmas tree pattern?

Bruce

3/10/2006 9:51:15 PM

try doing a forum and diary search that way you can make your own answers.

3/10/2006 11:41:33 PM

Montoursville, PA

Bruce,

The plant does not care where or how the given square feet, of healthy canopy exists.

The one main advantage is that you can run your main along the edge, of a given area and therefore have the fruit right, on the edge, on the main, where you may have management advantages.

3/11/2006 10:41:58 AM

Montoursville, PA

Oops.........incomplete response: Added thought: as long as the major food factory is kept between the fruit and the stump.

3/11/2006 10:45:16 AM

Belmont, NH

Docgipe, thanks for an honest reply. Maybe I worded my question wrong to begin with. Maybe it should have been--everything being equal, does a tree pattern tend to grow a bigger pumpkin than a flag pattern? My patch is long and narrow. I plant in the flag pattern now. Going to mix it up this year. As for "searching" I spent two hours reading previous posts.

3/11/2006 11:42:42 AM

Butler, Ohio

Bruce, dont mind Matfox, I think he just forgot his medicine today. Just talking from personal experience, I grew 2 plants in christmas tree pattern last year and one in the flag pattern and my christmas tree fruits grew much faster and got alot bigger for some reason. The square footage was almost equal between the 3 plants, so I'm not sure what the story is. Again, just my 2 cents worth, but that's what happened for me. Mike

3/11/2006 1:12:54 PM

The answer to question is you need do your own research on the subject because no one i am awareo f has compiled the results based on planting method to find out. so you will need to search for answer on you own to see if it has any effect at all.

3/12/2006 5:10:11 PM

Rhode Island

bruce

been growing these freaks of natire for a long while now.

the xmas tree pattern is best providing you have ample room. By pollination time with the xmas tree method you can and should have five or six sets of sides on each before pumpkin, giving the main plenty of feeding for that selected fruit.

with a flag you would have half the amt of sides and even at a longer length i think a flag would only do if you absolutely had to.

pap

3/12/2006 7:41:00 PM