WHY “NIP” MUSKMELON VINES? 
J. W. LLOYD 
University of Illinois 
Muskmelon vines be "nipped,” "pinched,” or 
"stopped” by the removal of the growing tip is quite 
commonly recommended in vegetable gardening liter- 
ature. Among modern American authors who make 
definite statements regarding the desirability of thus treating 
Muskmelon vines, the following may be mentioned: Peter 
Henderson, P. T. Quinn, S. B. Green, T. Greiner, W. Atlee 
Burpee, Allen French, Chas. A. Selden, Adolph Kruhm. The 
recommendation is without question based upon the fact that 
the fruit of the Muskmelon is borne principally upon the laterals 
or side branches rather than upon the main or central shoot of 
the vine. In fact, several authors state definitely that the 
object of the nipping is to force out the laterals on which the 
fruit is borne. This treatment is presumed to induce earlier 
fruiting, an increased yield, and even improved quality. 
The stage in the development of the plant at which nipping 
is advised varies from soon after the second rough leaf is formed 
to “when the vines have grown several feet in length.” Definite 
recommendations between these two extremes are "when the 
plants begin to run,” “when the vines are about twelve inches 
in length,” and "when about eighteen inches long.” Recom- 
mendations favoring extremely early nipping have reference 
to the culture of the Melon in frames, where only one plant 
is grown in each hill. This early nipping causes the formation 
of two laterals (one from the axil of each of the first two rough 
leaves) which are trained in opposite directions to more fully 
occupy the frame. These laterals are later nipped to promote 
the formation of sub-laterals on which the fruit is borne. 
The most specific and detailed instructions regarding nipping 
are given in some of the older American works on gardening 
which are plainly based upon European practice, and in modern 
European writings. These directions all have reference prim- 
arily to the growing of Melons under glass in restricted areas, and 
it is probable that the recommendations made by Henderson 
and later American writers have been carried over from the 
earlier amateur practice and writings, with such modifications 
as would seem to render them applicable to outdoor culture. 
In order to secure data in reference to the effect of nipping 
Melon vines grown under field conditions in Illinois, tests 
were made for five years in Union County and for three years 
in Marion County, making a total of eight separate tests. In 
each case, plats of Melons were planted, consisting of sixty-four 
hills each. 1 n one plat the tips of the vines were nipped off when 
the plants had reached a length of about one foot ; in another plat 
the vines were allowed to grow without nipping. The two plats 
were treated exactly alike as to fertilizing, tillage, spraying, etc. 
The fruit was picked as it ripened, and a careful record kept of 
each day’s picking. It was shipped to market along with fruit 
from other experiments being conducted at the same time. 
A record was kept of the selling price each day during the ship- 
ping season. In making up the yield records from the daily 
picking records, a division was made between early and late 
Melons. Those which ripened early in the season, before ship- 
ments from the region became heavy, and while prices were 
normally high, were designated as Early Melons, and the balance i 
of the crop as Late Melons. This may appear to be an arbitrary 
method of separation, but it is the most significant one from a 
commercial standpoint. 
Using this system of designation, there was a greater yield of 
early Melons from the nipped vines in five tests out of the eight, K 
and a smaller yield in three tests. If, however, the yields from f 
the eight tests are averaged, it appears that the nipped vines ( 
yielded slightly less than the vines that were not nipped; the V 
yields being .99 pounds per hill from the nipped vines and 1.02 
pounds per hill from the vines that were not nipped. 
In reference to total yields (including both early and late 
Melons) there was a greater difference in favor of the vines 
that were not nipped. In six tests out of the eight, the vines 
that were not nipped outyielded those which were nipped. The 
average yield from the nipped vines was 3.14 pounds per hill, 
while that from the unnipped vines was 3.49 pounds per hill, 
or a difference of .35 pounds per hill in favor of not nipping. 
The results of this experiment in Illinois, involving eight tests, 
are in harmony with the results of a test at the New Hampshire 
Station, reported in Bulletin 70 of that station. In the New 
Hampshire experiment, the vines in one row were nipped when 
they were three feet long “and then the laterals were again 
nipped or pinched in, not allowing over one or two fruits to set 
on each.” In another row “the main vine was pinched but no 
laterals.” In three rows the vines “were allowed to take their 
natural growth.” Ten hills had been planted in each row. The 
average yield of fruit from the vines that were not nipped was 
16 pounds per hill, while the average yield from the nipped vines, 
including both lots, was 1 5.7 pounds, or an average loss of three- 
tenths of a pound per hill apparently due to the nipping. The 
vines of which the laterals as well as the main vine were nipped, 
yielded slightly better than those of which only the main vine 
was nipped, but more labor was required to do the nipping. The 
conclusion was reached that there is “little if any gain from fc 
pinching or heading-in the Muskmelon when grown out of 
doors.” 
It would appear that the value of nipping Muskmelon vines, 
especially as applied to American field conditions, has been 
overestimated. Theoretically, the removal of the terminal grow- 
ing point of the vine should induce the early and abundant for- 
mation of laterals; and since the laterals bear the fruit, it might 
seem that both earliness and productiveness should thus be 
promoted. However, the formation of laterals is dependent 
fully as much upon the general vigor of the vines as upon 
stoppage of the growing point. A Melon vine will usually throw 
out fruiting laterals as early as it has attained sufficient growth 
to properly support any fruits that may set. A strong vine 
does not require nipping to make it form laterals; a weak vine 
needs other treatment than nipping to make it fruitful. Earli- 
ness and productiveness in Muskmelons may better be promoted | 
by liberal fertilizing and careful tillage to promote vigorous vine 
growth, than by nipping the vines to force the formation of 
laterals. 
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