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Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

I have six plants in the ground but am looking to cull it back to four. All plants have good genetics but I am amazed at how different these plants are growing. Two are growing very fast with really large leaves and a main vine that is more than an inch in diameter. Two are now starting to pick up but the main vines are about a half an inch in diameter and the leaves aren't that big. The final two are my problem children. One has a portion of the main vine that looks like it was stepped on. The other is growing well but the main vine is shooting towards the sky.

6/1/2012 8:31:34 AM

Central Minnesota

I think I have had all those kinds of plants before. The slower growing ones need a chance to kick in yet. Some of my smaller plants this year seem to have the biggest root systems, so my thought is some grow plant and some grow roots first. My main concern would be the one with the main that seems like it was stepped on. That seems like a pain to deal with all year.

This time of year all my mains and secondaries grow towards the sky because of all the available Nitrogen in the soil right now.

6/1/2012 8:51:06 AM

President - GPC

They seem to sit there and juZt growZ the girth of the stump. LeaveZ bulking up, tipZ enlarging....then soon aZ them tendrilZ start to show....It'Z BANGz....Off to the raceZ..

6/1/2012 10:16:28 AM

President - GPC

And I love thoZe oneZ that juZt seem weekZ ahead of the otherZ when they might be.... but NOT.

6/1/2012 10:23:48 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Never pull any backups until all the mains are safely on the ground.

6/1/2012 2:21:32 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

When planting two plants in one site and culling one later, I always use the same seed and choose the healthier, more agressive growing plant, assuming that the genetics in each plant are exactly the same, and cull when the main is safely on the ground as pointed out by Orangeneck.

Never will I put two different plants side-by-side and cull one later. Each different seed has its own characteristics and, just because one plant LOOKS better doesn't mean it will produce a larger fruit. Doing so doesn't really give the culled plant a chance.

My largest fruit last year was grown on the smallest, slowest-starting plant.

6/1/2012 9:41:14 PM

Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

Thanks...They all survived the wind storm yesterday so they live to grow another week before decisions are made.

6/2/2012 6:34:33 AM