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Bobcaygeon Ontario

I've been growing for two years now and one of the hardest things I have found about growing GP'S is fruit selection. It's very hard culling earlier pollinated larger pumpkins for a more appropriately placed pumpkin ie. main vine as opposed to secondaries. My question for you, more seasoned growers, is........have you found new pumpkins with larger, heavier stems produce larger pumpkins?

10/14/2002 10:08:01 PM

Puyallup, WA

I've seen "puny" vines grow big pumpkins....and huge vines
grow "puny" pumpkins! There seems to be no accurate predicting based on the vine size.

10/15/2002 2:08:50 AM

Deer Park, WI

A subject with much controversy, indeed. One that will probably never be concretely answered. The best you can do in the mean time is use logic- Main vine fruit are more "connected" to the rest of the plant. Its like setting up shop on a Freeway as opposed to a highway. Where's there gonna be more traffic? I had a secondary fruit come out of the blocks like an all star, only to shut down a couple weeks later. Seems to be the trend in my patch. My best advice is to always choose the Fastest growing main vine fruit. And as far as stems go, I agree with Stan's statements.

10/15/2002 8:50:24 AM

Tacoma, WA

Secondary fruit seem to start quickly....only to "peter out"
by mid-August!

10/15/2002 12:33:58 PM

So, in the interest of sending all nutrients to pumpkins most likely to grow the best...would it be wise to cull secondary fruit?

10/15/2002 1:19:12 PM