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Upa Creek, Mo

I get tall leaves every year, sometimes over 4 feet. Is this a light issue due to latitude? I notice many of the growers further north have plants that tend to stay low to the ground. Any thoughts on how this works and any way to correct? Wind is awful on tall plants and a single gust can ruin a season in 10 seconds. It's happened a few times. I am single handedly driving up the price of bamboo sticks and zip ties.




This pic is of one of the tallest plants I ever had years ago, looks good, but very vulnerable.

http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=221379



This is of NSB's perfect set up in British Columbia. Leaves are an ideal height.

http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=340553

8/6/2023 9:30:45 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Luke, my patch is full sun if that helps. Looks like you have some trees lining your growing area, if it’s shaded, could the plants be reaching for the sun and growing more leggy?

8/6/2023 9:55:30 AM

Bethlehem CT

Yeah definitely a light issue. They send up long petioles when reaching for sunlight. There is nothing wrong with the tall leafs, but they are way more vulnerable to wind and blowing over etc.

8/6/2023 10:20:43 AM

Bethlehem CT

That shade probably is somewhat helpful with your high temps, problem is... that after a point it does take away pounds at the scale. Think of leaves as the solar panels, the less sun they receive the less energy(food) they can put out.

8/6/2023 10:22:33 AM

Auburn California

Sorry but this is not solely a sun problem as I get nothing but sun from morning to night and I too am a bamboo tycoon :), Crane

8/6/2023 11:11:21 AM

Western NY

How's your wind situation? For me, it seems a combination of nutrition and wind. The calmer it is, the bigger they get. Also, the more crowded the vines get, the more they fight each other and grow tall.

8/6/2023 11:57:43 AM

Auburn California

Wind is not a huge problem here this year yet however I find it to be an issue When these leaves get up tall and end up laying over and down on the other leaves creating a domino effect in the middle of the patch, and setting me up for the greatest condition for powdery mildew later in the game.

8/6/2023 12:13:05 PM

Grittyville, WA

Excess potassium and even the slightest crowding, and the stalks shoot straight up. Usually on the first cloudy day, or after adding fertilizer. In some places I have a three story leaf canopy now, its like a mature forest.
As with a mature forest, they help hold each other up, its only the clingy young vines that want to push and pull everything down, so I wade through it & remove a half dozen of those, every other day or so.

8/6/2023 12:40:34 PM

South of Buffalo

My leaves are very tall this year 4-4.5'(full sun). This seems to be in relation to N. After putting in chicken manure the following year (this year) I get tall leaves. Then they diminish in height as the N is used up till i add more manuer. I also grow in a closed space so its cramped but the N is an influencer for my patch.

8/6/2023 3:25:10 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Thanks for the replies. I think we might have a few things going on.

I typically space my leaves out well enough (not this year), and wind pressure is not consistent. But when it does get windy, the woods act like a barrier up to a point. Then it can backfire like wind between buildings almost in a swirling fashion.

I didn't add any extra nitrogen this year, but I do grow in clay soil and it holds water well. Maybe it retains something in excess? Pair that with shade after 230pm and then I get 4.5 ft leaves...

I am curious on Crane and Jeffs situation in full sun and still have the issue I do.

Tall leaves look great and people are amazed at the massive plant and pumpkins, but the domino effect Crane mentioned is awful. I'd rather have low profile plants.

8/6/2023 5:33:00 PM

South of Buffalo

My being in a closed space does usually result in PM regardless of stalk height. i had it early this year but its been in check with bravo/milstop and quintec. I also have clay soil so what I add sticks around for awhile. The taller of 2 plants this year is the 2493 wolf, same spot last year... 2365 wolf plant was half the size..didnt add chicken manuer till october.

8/6/2023 9:34:08 PM

Westmoreland, KS

Luke My 2 plants in my green house always tend to show different characteristics. My north plant last year smaller but tall leaves. South one short and huge. This year the north plant has smaller and shorter leaves. The south plant has enormous leaves both tall and wide. So no real rime or reason.

8/7/2023 8:59:01 AM

New Castle, Indiana

I have random tall leaves on my plant and I would say it's due to crowding based on their location.

8/7/2023 6:33:21 PM