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Cape Cod

Years ago I read you should cull the side shoots, as they do not feed the pumpkin.

Now I have been told that I am doomed to failure and that my 20' vine (without sideshoots) with leaves 35" across will not support anything beyond a small fruit.

Is there any concensus on this matter?

8/4/2002 8:55:01 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

did you cull all your secondarys or you talking about your Tertiary vines? If you culled all your secondary's, you will only have the main to grow the big pumpkin on. which you will only geta 2-300 lb pumpkin. so next year, keep all your secondarys and cull your tertiarys

8/4/2002 10:24:30 PM

Cape Cod

Thank you. I can live with that, wasn't trying to grow a "killer". Garden only 450 sq. feet. Secondaries would have co opted the whole thing and then I wouldn't have had any room for my hot peppers.

I started a friend off with a plant this year, and she has an enormous (and empty) field where we will do it next year and let the plant have its way.

8/5/2002 6:25:59 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey DD, I thought i responded but probably didn't hit send. Brett Hester in the growers transcripts mentions the "Anaconda" or snake style vine. Not much on it but take a look! Chuck

8/5/2002 10:58:46 AM