Message Board - BigPumpkins.com

Long Island, NY

Out of two plants the only two pumpkins that took are both on the same vine about 5 ft apart. One is the size of a volley ball the other a soft ball. Keep them both or kill one? Which one and when?

Thanks ,

Steve

7/24/2002 1:10:18 PM

Commack, NY

which one is bigger?

scott

7/24/2002 7:07:25 PM

Long Island, NY

Scott,

The one that is further out on the vine is the smaller one.
Cull it or wait?

Thanks,

Steve

7/24/2002 8:47:27 PM

duff

Topsfield, Ma.

watch them both for a while and see if one's growing faster than the other... that one would be my choice !

7/24/2002 8:55:14 PM

Commack, NY

9 times out of 10 the one closer to the stump will grow faster then the one further out. tough choice, i usually go for the one further out, but that's pretty risky because you never know how it will perform. with that said, here's a few things to consider......stem length, angle of the pumpkin to the vine, shape. you want a long stem, and a pumpkin perpendicular to the vine. so which one looks better now?

scott

7/24/2002 9:00:40 PM

Long Island, NY

Well,

The bigger one is in good position relative to the vine but the stem looks a bit deformed. Looks almost like a wedge coming off of the vine. Its about 3 inces in width, 3 inches long and about an inch thick. Don't know if this is a good thing(looks pretty sturdy) or bad. Anyone ever see a stem like this? Wish I had a cam to post a picture.

Steve

7/24/2002 9:24:57 PM

Commack, NY

when dealing with stems.....the longer the better. but sometimes you have to use what you've been dealt. not an easy choice. what about the other fruit? btw, did you go to the long island weighoff last year?

scott

7/24/2002 11:12:32 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

Farmer Scott, all things being equal, why would you choose the one further out?

7/24/2002 11:26:20 PM

floh

Cologne / Germany

If you decide to keep fruits - like going with 2 on one plant - what is your choice for the vine? One on the main, the other on a sec, or two on the main? I heard growers had good results going with 2 fruits.

7/25/2002 5:39:04 AM

Commack, NY

i like more plant behind the fruit. so if all things were equal i will always take the further out fruit.
scott

7/25/2002 5:52:20 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

I've always thought that being fairly close to the main root structure would be more advantageous. Could you expound on your reasoning for having more plant behind the fruit. Always like to here other growers experiences and philosophies, especially if they might help me and the others on this sight grow 'em bigger. Thanx

7/25/2002 8:06:54 PM

Long Island, NY

Scott,

This is really my first year growing a big boy, so I didn't hear about the weight off.

Well the further out pumpkin is really not growing much while the other (deformed stem) is about basketball sized now. On closer inspection the vine seams to be attached in more than on place. The one large main stem(which is on the wrong side so it kind of half circles to the fruit) and then a thin wedge of tissue between the fruit and vine with little runners on them. Can I cut this tissue away or will that create an infection that could kill the fruit- What to do ?

Thanks for all the feed back

Steve

7/25/2002 8:12:17 PM

jeff517

Ga.

more leaves...More the better...

7/25/2002 8:13:50 PM

Commack, NY

Stevo, if you could post a pic, that might be helpful. i understand what your saying about the stem, but i think a pic would (pardon the pun) be worth a thousand words. the one farther out is 9 times out of 10 going to be smaller then the one closer in....the one closer in is taking up most of the juice. if you hacked it off, the farther out one would grow faster. im not saying that you should do that, im just saying that's what would most probably happen if you did.

scott

7/25/2002 8:29:44 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

More leaves before the pumpkin? Or just more leaves as a total on the plant. If you say, more leaves before the pumpkin can you splain me why. Thanx

7/25/2002 9:39:01 PM

Commack, NY

snake oil......i sent you an email yesterday....have you read it?

scott

7/26/2002 7:03:05 AM