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Joliet, IL

this year i left on every secondary, unless around the
pumpkin area or a small stunted secondary vine. i am
really glad i did because i have been hit by hail 3 times
and have swiss cheese leaves. at least now i still have
a good amount of green left because i have more
secondaries and more leaves.

my question is, why remove every other secondary if you can
train them well. i do not weed between secondaries after
tap root growth is in place because with big leaves the
weeds stay real small. and i can spray reaching every leaf
from stepping on boards between secondaries that are placed
about 8' from main. do too many secondary vines take away water from the pumpkin? and if that is the case, wouldn't
you grow the extra secondaries for back up and then remove
them as needed?

7/21/2003 10:36:14 AM

Nova Scotia

some people prune 2nd secondaries to allow easy access to the plant for spraying pesticides ect.. and to allow good air flow to keep things healthy. others leave them so as to be more resistant to wind damage. so it's a personal choice.

7/21/2003 11:15:23 AM

Nova Scotia

shazzy i personaly leave them on and got a 900lbs this year but moister got me in the end.

p.s. i''m watching you closely i see your ahead of me for time fruit was set on. go for the 1000lbs

7/21/2003 11:18:22 AM

Edmonton, Canada

Hey Shazzy, I was just out in the patch, and was going to come in and post the same question, you just beat me to it! I usually leave all of my secondaries on, and I haven't had a problem so far.

7/21/2003 11:42:56 AM

Montoursville, PA

I am coached to leave all the secondaries on. I manage to get clubfooted or other unexplained happenings get a leaf here and there. In my opinion the lower undercover weed growth is at least limited by keeping all the leaves in place.

I find the space between the leaf canopy and the soil line very interesting and full of it's own beauty.

7/21/2003 12:30:02 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

I made that question to many experts and to myself. Didn't get a clear answer, but from Al Eaton: "it depends on the plant".
Then, looking at my patch, I can say that I agree. For instance if you take the two north plants of my patch, you find that the 600.5 Gregory trough 5 runners in 20', while the 869.5 Kline had 7 runners in the same distance. I feel I didn't have to clear any secondaries on the 600.5 but some of them on the 869.5.
On the south edge, you'll find a different aspect of the problem. The 790 Daletas has secondaries at the same distance than the 950 Boyton, but her leaves are much larger, then she will find more comfortable room with some prunning.
Wind can be determinant as well. If your suffer strong ones often, to have the leaves close could help them to resist.

Just some thoughts from a newbie...........Don

7/21/2003 12:59:28 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Excellent answer by Al Eaton, it makes sense.

7/21/2003 1:12:46 PM

Joliet, IL

thanx all, i appreciate the replies. Mr T. thanx for the support, i am hoping for a big'n too.

7/22/2003 1:46:28 PM