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Ashby, MA

Hi,

I have a dilemma... I pollinated a flower on the main vine about 17' out. Went on vacation and found out that the pollination didn't take for some reason. When I got home I discovered that the next flower had an open pollination on July 3rd when I was traveling home. Like an idiot I plucked the flower off. Another flower will not be ready for another 8 days or so and will be a good 25'+ on the main. So I pollinated a flower on a side vine on July 4th.

What's the biggest pumpkin grown on a side vine? Should I cut the main and make that my new main. Should I just wait and pollinate the next flower on the main and hope for the best.

This is my 1789 Wallace plant... which was doing so well. I guess this is another reason not to go on vacation during pumpkin season. :-(

7/6/2012 2:24:49 PM

Princeton Kentucky

Others on here could tell you the Particular sizes grown on secondaries but I've read and have been told that you cannot grow a world record on a side vine but you can grow one over 1000 pounds if the secondary is far enough out and theres enough plant behind it. I'm in the same boat with the est 525 Puricelli plant as of this morning. Good Luck

7/6/2012 3:03:04 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

Hang in there,things may work out. Ive never grown a pumpkin on a side vine but to my understanding the pumpkin is like a giant drain and takes energy wherever it can unfortunetly for you not many people have really grown any world,champs on a side vine their just not the best candidates for it. I dont see whu you cant grow a a PB off a side vine. Especially on the freaks genetics. A lot of things have to happen to grow a monster one pumpkin may do better then another pollinated on the main vine.,time really isnt on our side concerning pollinations. Im going through the same thing. Either the pollinations take or they don't i'd say pollinate what you can and then cull down to what looks healthiest and seems to grow the best.

7/6/2012 3:09:04 PM

Frankfort Ohio

i grew a 472# on a july 19th pollination on 175sf just to make a cross i wanted if the plant is big enuff i think 1k can happen

7/6/2012 5:25:51 PM

Lasalle,mi

I grew a 1200 pound pumpkin off a side vine last year. It was pollinated on july 15th. It was still growing about 6lbs a day and split after a big rain the day before weighoff.

7/6/2012 10:15:34 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

The largest pumpkin I can recall ever having been grown on a secondary vine was a 1375 by Dr. Bob.

7/7/2012 2:48:30 AM

East Jordan, MI

The main is typically the biggest most direct connection between the main root and your pumpkin.

That said, looking at AGGC,

The 1464.8 Hunt 2011 was grown on a secondary, pollinated Jul 3rd, 12 feet out.

The 1411.8 Werner 2011 was grown on a secondary at 10 feet out after the main double vined, pollinated on Jul 2nd and his comments were "ended up being one of my better plants."

The 1375 Liggett 2008 was pollinated on Jul 1st, 14 ft out on a side vine because a mid june hail storm terminated his main and most of the secondaries.

The 1290 Rose 2008 is listed at growing from a tertiary after the main ribbon vined.

So it is possible to get a respectable pumpkin from something other than a main, but I think (not sure based off of the information provided on the Hunt or the Liggett) most of these were treated as a main (sides coming from it to help feed it and the kin).

I read a post on here once that stated pumpkins on secondaries tend to peak early and taper off early too. I can't find it right now, but haven't given up looking for it.

7/7/2012 3:34:37 AM

East Jordan, MI

Here are a few posts I found that talk about main vs secondary sets. Good luck.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=400902

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=398315

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=303700

7/7/2012 4:31:25 AM

Ashby, MA

Thanks everyone for the advise. I'm going to keep the one i have on the secondary and pollinate the next flower on the main and then decide. The one on the main will probably be ready to pollinate in 4 days. So that's July 12th... not a horrible date. I can say that it will have quite a large plant behind it to push it along since it will be out about 25'. This 1789 Wallace plant is such a hearty plant too. Everything on the plant is big and strong. I'm hoping the pumpkin will be too.

7/8/2012 4:53:21 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Cecil, so from what I understand, if I were to use a side vine, I could grow terts off of it to help feed it more (like we do with secs and the main)?

Barron, that's impressive. Gives me hope.

7/8/2012 5:01:00 PM

East Jordan, MI

Not sure about that luke. I guess it might.

What I was referring to is when a secondary gets used and becomes the new main, instead of growing on a side vine back somewhere in the plant with all sides cut off of it and the main continuing on past it.

7/9/2012 7:16:32 AM