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Kennett Square, PA

I've read several correspondes that say cutting the vine 4" or more after a "keeper" will not harm the growing pumpkin and indeed may help it. I'm at 66" around w/ 2" growth per day...Should I do it??? Please re-re-confirm that this is a common practice and I will sleep better tonight. Thank you.

Gary

7/26/2002 8:11:45 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I don't think that's common Gary. especially if it's the main. while some big pumpkins have grown on terminated vines Like Farmer Scott's I think even he said it was an accident loss of the tip. You better wait for some more responses before you do the dirty deed. Terminating side vines I think is what your thinking of. Chuck

7/26/2002 8:18:08 PM

derry n.h u.s.a.

Gary:
Growers generally cut the main after the pumpkin only if theres high stem stress(it's when the vines at both sides of the pumpkin are touching the shoulders of the pumpkin and are becoming tight too the touch) if thats the case cut the out going vine,if thats not the case leave the vine alone,i beleave theirs not too much to loose by cutting it,but its better to leave it alone if possible,you might gain a couple pounds more in the end.Best of luck.John G

7/26/2002 8:41:46 PM

prairie du sac wi

I also think that it depends on where the pumpkin is set on the plant.If its 20 feet out on the main then the amount of plant that you need will have allready been produced and it might be a good choice to cut the main.(just a thought).Do what you think your plant needs!Good luck!!

7/27/2002 2:37:18 AM

Deer Park WA

Try to encourage secondary vine growth ahead of where you need to terminate the trailing vine. This will allow you to preemptivly "fill in" the culled area and reduce plant shock. Best wishes, Gerry Gadberry

7/27/2002 3:43:44 AM

Webster, NY

I've been removing tertiaries, and removing some secondaries, but only a few on a time, I didn't want to put the plant into shock. I haven't cut any of the main's yet.

7/27/2002 8:14:34 AM

Amherst, WI

A few days ago I cut the main off about 5 in. past "Old Cracked Stem" (@ 170 lbs). The stem came from the bottom of the vine and the pumkpin had nowhere to go, looked like it would eventually fall over on the vine/stem. The one thing I noticed the next day is the fruit had hundreds of small cracks in the skin from what was most likely a growth spurt. Does anyone know if that's a common thing after cutting off the main after the fruit?

7/27/2002 10:50:35 AM