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Colo Springs CO

Curious to know how other growers determine when they can expect to hit their peak vine burying (PVB) date ? The PVB date is the estimated date where the grower should have the most amount of vines that need buried at one given time. I have used my PVB formula to figure that out each year and come pretty close to that estimation each time. I add 30 days to the date of pollination for each individual plant. To know what date that is for four plants, I add 30 days to the first pollination, and 30 days to the last, then divide the difference of the amount of days that is in half. Whatever that number is, either add that to the first pollination 30 day date or subtract it from the 30 day date of your last pollination.
I determined mine to fall around July 26th this year... First pollination was on June 18th. Last was on July 4th. That is 16 days in between first and last pollination, divide the 16 days in half, that number is 8. If I add 30 days to my June 18th first pollination date plus the 8 days, I come up with July 26th to be the estimated date where I can expect to begin dead heading vines and having less and less vines thereafter to have to spend time burying. I use 30 days as the time when plants start slowing down plant growth in favor of fruit growth. Some plants might give you more time, others less, but thats a pretty good way to estimate when you might look forward to getting your life back slowly each day thereafter. Each vine deadheaded is less and less time you have to spend devoted to vine burying. I explain to people the most time out of the season spent working isn't spring or fall, its at peak vine burying... then they look confused and ask me "what the hell is that?"

7/22/2020 12:58:33 AM

Colo Springs CO

yes... only have about 6 more days to go then each day Ill spend more time in the patch checking out pumpkins and sipping suds and less time kneeling and digging and trenching . I know thats part of the "fun", but i like the sipping on suds part much much more. I like being able to know when I can expect to look forward to that time again...

7/22/2020 1:06:03 AM

Penryn CA

Informative - thank you.

7/22/2020 1:46:59 AM

Central NY

Good info...I’m gonna call it our SSSD...start sipping suds date. If you’ve made it to the SSSD....you’ve earned it. Good luck the rest of the way!!

7/22/2020 8:31:57 AM

Brandon,WI.

YES thats correct, SSSD is right around the corner :)

7/22/2020 9:33:48 PM

Lloydminster/AB

All vines terminated by 20 Dap.

7/23/2020 12:38:18 AM