James, a college bound Archie Williams grad, was working on the vining vegetables in the Edible Garden when I glimpsed him studying the curly, spring-like tendril attaching to the fence. We are growing pumpkins and watermelons vertically this growing season and, once encouraged by helping hands, the plant knows to vine upward.
James asked if I knew the name of the action that causes the tendril to seek and attach. Well, that’s something I just didn’t know. Before consulting the all-knowing internet, we tried to conjure the word, alas to no avail. A quick search revealed that the action of a twisting tendril seeking and attaching is called thigmotropism. Another name for this mechano-sensory directional growth is haptotropism. For this Note From the Garden, we’ll go with thigmotropism.
As the pumpkins and watermelon gain purchase on the fence by way of thigmotropic action, the vines are now at the top of the fence and spreading. There are gourds and melons at eye level and above with curly tendrils holding fast. Amazing!
I find this to be one of nature’s many wonders. Just as wondrous is the curiosity of a rising college freshman.
