From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Wood River, Nebraska

I currently have 2-200lb. pumpkins on the same plant, each gaining about 15+ lbs. per day. I want to cull 1 of them but I'm afraid the remaining fruit will explode.! What advice do you have for me? Shoud I do some root pruning or remove some secondaries??
dave=stewee

7/28/2003 8:59:38 AM

ipswich, ma usa

If it was me I would keep the fruit that is on the main vine (If both are on the main pick the one with the best vine position, stem length). Once you have made the decision to cull, slowly cut through the stem over a period of days. I have culled over a four day period each day cutting one quarter way through the stem. This should help with the dispesion of extra energy.

John (5150)

7/28/2003 9:39:40 AM

ipswich, ma usa

If it was me I would keep the fruit that is on the main vine (If both are on the main pick the one with the best vine position, stem length). Once you have made the decision to cull, slowly cut through the stem over a period of days. I have culled over a four day period each day cutting one quarter way through the stem. This should help with the dispesion of extra energy.

John (5150)

7/28/2003 9:40:16 AM

Wood River, Nebraska

John, thanks! your culling method makes alot of sense. I've never been this position and I appreciate all the help from everyone at BP.
dave=stewee

7/28/2003 9:58:01 AM

Montoursville, PA

I would go for the biggie. Cull with the above instructions which make a lot of good sense.

7/28/2003 10:15:21 AM

New Brunswick

What a dilema...I should be so lucky! LOL. But.....regarding culling, according to the World Class Giant Pumpkins volume II, on page 83, it states that there is ever increasing confirmation that a fruit receives its energy from only the primary vine it is on. Other primary vines do not effect its growth and the inference is that you can have multiple fruit on a plant as long as they are on separate primary vines. It goes on to say that if you have three primary vines emerging within 18 inches of the base of the plant, then you can potentially grow three pumpkins on the plant.... I read this after I had cut off two smaller ones today! But....what happens if you cut the tap roots on these primary vines and have to rearrange them to allow the fruit to grow without rubbing on the vine...what then? I had to do that today (one was sitting on the main vine which was well rooted down) and as a result many little roots were uprooted beyond the pumpkin. Will it receive enough nourishment from the main stump? and...if it gets its nourishment from the main stump than back to the original question....should some pumpkins be culled?????

7/29/2003 7:43:35 PM

Montoursville, PA

There is only one main or primary vine. All others coming off of it or the stump are secondaries. It can be clearly seen that growth over all including fruit on the primary is related to terminating the secondaries so it most certainly supports growth on the primary. There have been cases where a main has been broken and the remaining main and secondaries raised the fruit. Except in a mutant ugly plant not from this world there can be only one main. It is the natural continued extension of the stump. Secondaries can appear from the stump and may be confusing sometimes.

7/29/2003 9:36:12 PM