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Grittyville, WA

I agree with the idea of planting multiple plants but I would think that it would be best to at least get the mains down on the ground before culling... any thoughts on spacing/ when to cull? I am surprised by how close people plant and how early they cull.

My advice would be that there isn’t much negative affect of having just one leaf overlap another... let them get as big as possible before culling. Just don’t let them get so crowded that the leaf stalks elongate and become weaker.

5/5/2018 6:04:53 PM

Lodi, California

There's also the issue of root space, but I'll digress to others with more experience.

5/5/2018 6:21:01 PM

Plainville, Connecticut 06062

I would agree to start culling when you are still a few weeks out from any plant forming a runner is a tad to early. I put in anywhere from 2-4 plants in each of my hoop houses. The ones with two will stay put until they start to run and then I will make my decision based on health, size and how fast the plant is progressing and also on there genetics. The hoops with three and four may see one or two plants get culled prior to running and sometimes not depending on the room available for them to grow. Many things can happen prior to a plant running, such as one that suddenly shows signs of possibly developing a double or flat vine or making a big mistake and damaging a plant, plus you have to consider a plant that has shown characteristics in the past to be a slow starter! So in my opinion I always wait until my plants generally have a 2-3 foot runner before deciding on who stays and who doesn’t to me it makes the most sense if you have the room. Sometimes I will have to raise the clear plastic sides on my hoops to allow more room for newly formed secondaries to grow under the rolled up plastic. If you allow them to make contact with the sides and the secondary runner starts to form a bend against the plastic the bend most likely will make it difficult for you to straighten it back out, I learned this the hard way. Remember once you cull one there is no way to bring it back a day or two latter when you may really need it!

5/5/2018 8:52:31 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Ashton, you’re a seasoned grower and all input counts. Someone who’s grown 30 years might not have encountered what you or someone else did in 1 year. Keep posting.

I tend to agree with Glenomkins on this. I culled too early last year and ended up keeping a double vine plant that was a complete write off by July. Had I waited another week and let both plants lay down and start running, I would have caught this.

5/6/2018 10:13:59 AM

Wisconsin

I like to live dangerously and single plant.

5/6/2018 2:51:17 PM

west central IN/East central IL

I've had a few plants slow out of the gates, but explode with growth later. I think they may be growing roots instead of vegetation. The 220debacco was one of these slow starters.

5/6/2018 4:08:20 PM

Ely Mn

I agree!! Let them touch down at a minimum

5/6/2018 6:38:22 PM

Dillonvale, Ohio

I'm wrestling with when to call this year, I've never planted 2 and had to pull one. Everything I always read, said to keep the one that got to a certain distance first, typically 5'. Maybe that's too long, but I'm waiting until mine are running

5/6/2018 9:19:28 PM

stoughton WI

A more aggressive plant doesn't always mean a bigger pumpkin

5/6/2018 9:28:49 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Single plant baby..all chips on the table

5/6/2018 10:17:42 PM

On a cliff in the desert

I plant only one of an expensive seed instead of 2. I think its a waste of money destroying one of the plants. Start your seeds early. If your seed fails to germinate, then start an alternate seed.

5/7/2018 1:41:48 AM

Grittyville, WA

All are valid viewpoints... What kind of chips on the table? Potato chips? And... it’s like you’re asking me to eat just one... Maybe he means poker chips.

5/7/2018 2:13:59 AM

Grittyville, WA

Here is a very considerate comparison. He even notes the shape of the baby pumpkin. I like this setup and attention to detail.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=273929

5/17/2018 7:53:15 AM

Germany

...and I´ll do that again and again, and this year I´ve added another foot spacing between the plants in order to let them grow side by side for another couple of days. It´s good when you have plants from the same seed stock of the same age in the same soil and then you can count leaf nodes and strong secondaries before making a final decision. :)
Patch prep and the precious time of a year (actually one out of few years of lifetime we can use for pumpkin growing) vs. an additional seed per plant side...it´s up to the grower what one would prefer to waste in case something goes wrong with a plant.

5/17/2018 8:39:27 AM