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Federal Way, WA

Hey everyone,
I've seen a lot of plant layout illustrations that display some pretty sharp secondary vine turns...some even looking like 90 degrees. Due to limited space, I want to turn the first three secondaries on each side 90 degrees within about 5ft feet of the stump. Is it realistic to get a near 90 degree turn without damage and what techniques do you use to get nice, clean turns to keep your planned layouts on track? Thanks!

7/9/2013 3:22:04 PM

Winston Salem, NC

Move it in the later afternoon and spread it out over several days. Stake the vine in several spots to train it. If you move it in late afternoon and wait a few hours you often can move it a few more inches again at sundown. Don't go too fast or you will snap them off.
Check out this video by Frank and Tina Finders about 4 minutes or so in, it shows the principle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NirosIF4Xoo

7/9/2013 4:00:11 PM

South Hero, VT

Yeah. Definitely do it REAL slowwwwwww. 2 inches a day in late afternoon is a safe amount. Remember: this is a baby--very gentle moves. Better safe than sorry.

This is from a grower who f****d up in the past.

7/9/2013 6:32:00 PM

East Jordan, MI

PRACTICE with a side that you are ready to terminate (in case it breaks) or tertiary that you are going to cut off anyway. Once you get the feel of it you can move them pretty easily.

If you need a less radical bend and/or start soon enough (when vine is just inches past where you want the bend), you can just put a stake where you want to bend, and use another stake to push the vine an inch or two the direction you want to go, or even put something in the way and let the vine make it's own corner as it grows. This can be repeated every 2 or 3 hours 3 or 4 times a day if it is warm outside. By the time the vine has grown for 3 or 4 days it will have a pretty good bend in it.

Here is what I do if I need to turn a vine that has already grown 4 or 5 ft past where I want the turn and need to get it done pretty quick -- CAUTION you can/(probably will) break a vine doing this until you get the "feel" -- so continue at your own risk and practice on vines that you are going to cut anyway.
1. Only move when vine is warm in afternoon hours -- the warmer the better.
2. Put a couple of stakes in the bend radius so all of the pressure isn't in one spot, I use bamboo stakes.
3. Pick the vine tip up (don't drag it) and hold the vine about a foot from the end. I generally have about 3-4 ft from my hand to the bend spot.
4. SLOWLY start turning the direction you want to go.
watch and feel the vine closely.
5. When you feel resistance or see the vine bowing between the stake and your hand -- STOP and set the vine down.

As spartmat said, you can repeat a couple of times a day if you wait 2 or 3 hours between tries, (I usually move the stakes and inch or two closer to my hand before I do the next try so I don't put too much stress on the same spot too often) and of course second time you can't move it as much. In 3 or 4 days and you can easily get a 180 degree bend if you need it without damaging the vine.

7/9/2013 6:32:50 PM

Federal Way, WA

Awesome info! Employing the strategies now with good results so far (got a few vine adjustments in today already as it was mid-80's). Thanks for the in depth info cntryboy; really appreciate the write up!

7/9/2013 8:23:00 PM

Sourthern Utah

slowly ,,, oh so slowly,, in the heat of the day.. make sure u back it u a little bit ,, if u have to cut tap root,, do it ,, but very slowly,, 90 degres,, in about 4days ,, i try fer,, but i'm slow,, lost a good 1 a couple yrs back,, from impatients,

7/9/2013 9:58:15 PM

Stanwood, Washington

Its not that hard. I have limited space and manipulate my vines all the time. Just do it over a few days and do it when its warm. Last year I did a flag pattern and I turned the first two vines on the opposite side 180 degrees and had them running back behind the stump.

7/10/2013 3:02:17 PM

Lakewood, Colorado

I brought 2 secondaries on each side back behind the stump like Captain 97, making a 180 degree bend at the edge of my patch. Just be careful. I train it with stakes near the growing tip so that I don't bend a thick vine. It will grow any direction you want if you plan ahead. I will post a picture in my diary tonight.

7/10/2013 3:38:38 PM