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Long Beach, CA

I've noticed that, even though I've been burying all my vines with compost, few of them are rooting at the nodes. What might be the cause for this? Could it possibly have something to do with the use of compost instead of patch soil?

Thanks,
Oliver

8/8/2006 9:18:47 PM

Somers, CT

I am not sure. I had at least 10 yards of horse manure (in wood chips) and have been extremely happy this year with my growth. Three plants, no diseases and few bugs. I can see the roots sticking out ready to spike the ground before I bury the vines in the manure from the patch. The one thing I did do is leave the manure over the patch and not till it in creating a soft and well aerated path for the roots to traverse. Not many weeds either. I may just die now with a set fruit on each plant. This has been a good year so far. I have used 90% organics with fish/seaweed foliar and Cocadoodle doo as a side dressing. Over-the-counter concentrate of insect/fungicide as lightly as the patch can stand. I did foliar a miracle grow pack or two in July to get things moving and watered daily during the heat wave.

8/8/2006 11:17:53 PM

Somers, CT

Make sure the soil is nice and loose. I have never had non-existent spikes. I have had non-existent females, growth, plants (due to bacterial wilt) and of course pumpkins at the end of the season to bring to weigh-off. BTW, I spent a year on the beach in 74 on Seashore Drive in Newport Beach. Nice area. We used to go to Long Beach to watch the powerboat races, outboards and inboards.

8/8/2006 11:21:37 PM

Nashville, TN

Oliver, rooting at Nodes is a VERY normal part of growth. At almost every node in my patch - I've got roots going down THROUGH the mulch & paper, into the soil beneith. This is very good - and increases the absorbtion and available nutrients to the entire plant...

You just have to be careful around the pumpkin itself. Cut the roots holding the vine down so that it can rise as the pumkpin gain size.

8/9/2006 7:26:57 AM

Long Beach, CA

Hum, since there doesn't seem to be any obvious solution, I might try applying rooting hormone at the nodes and see what happens. I've read that it's possible to produce your own rooting hormone by soaking weeping willow growing tips in water. But, since I can't think of a place to find weeping willow around here, I may just buy some rooting hormone...

8/9/2006 10:17:17 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Oliver,
Are you keeping the soil relatively moist? If not, lack of moisture may be the cause. Maybe the compost has some kind of effect that inhibits rooting(maybe something in the compost)? You could try covering parts of the vine with soil, to see if it makes a difference.

8/9/2006 10:58:46 PM

Long Beach, CA

Doug,
I have been keeping the soil moist, but you may be right about the compost... I stopped using it and switched to garden soil a few days ago; if it was indeed the compost's fault I'll soon find out.

Oliver

8/10/2006 3:04:59 AM

Montoursville, PA

All willows have some of that rooting hormone. Pussy Willow and a host of other backyard landscaping willows.

I messed with it two years ago. I used a blender to make a pulpy slurry. Two secondary vines were watered with the ointment. I could see very little difference. Pumpkins, the AG's are so vigerous I suspect they have no need for whatever the willow offers. No harm in experimenting so try it sometime.

8/10/2006 10:57:18 AM