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Mount Wolf, Pa

I have a pumpkin located on the main of a vine; about 18 feet from the trunk; which is at a sharp angle to the vine. I would like to keep this pumpkin and was wondering if it would effect it's growth if I cut the main off just past the pumpkin, and allowed the secondaries just before it to take over the plant growth.

7/14/2003 6:59:09 AM

Commack, NY

DLR, you can cut it if you wish.......others including myself have been in situations where there was no other option other than cutting the main after the fruit. ive done it quite a few times at this point, and have notiticed no ill effects.

good luck,
Scott

7/14/2003 7:42:26 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

DLR: Two years ago had a pumpkin 11 ft. out shoulder on the vine and cause a split that threatened to sever itself from the vine. Since I had no other choice on the plant, I was forced to cut off the main immediately after the stem, or lose the pumpkin altogether. In fact the stem itself was 50% severed from vine. But the fruit kept growing in an apparent normal growth cycle and topped out at 441. (Which was pretty good for me.) I suppose if I had trained the vines properly and not had the problem to begin with, the fruit would have gotten bigger. But the lesson I took from it is that the energy comes from BEHIND the fruit, not beyond...
Frank

7/14/2003 9:35:13 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

DLR: Two years ago had a pumpkin 11 ft. out shoulder on the vine and cause a split that threatened to sever itself from the vine. Since I had no other choice on the plant, I was forced to cut off the main immediately after the stem, or lose the pumpkin altogether. In fact the stem itself was 50% severed from vine. But the fruit kept growing in an apparent normal growth cycle and topped out at 441. (Which was pretty good for me.) I suppose if I had trained the vines properly and not had the problem to begin with, the fruit would have gotten bigger. But the lesson I took from it is that the energy comes from BEHIND the fruit, not beyond...
Frank

7/14/2003 9:37:24 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Oops. Sorry about that double post. My two cents: Chop away.
Frank

7/14/2003 9:39:12 AM