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West [email protected]

Every ones giant pumpkin in there garden looks like it is clear of almost all leaves and I don't even see any secondary vines near by. Is it common to snip the secondary vines off near the pumpkin and if so When ?

I'm asking cause I leave my secondary on that comes off the stem junction and it is looking very tight under my big one and I was thinking of cutting it before anything bad happens but I don't want any diseases to get in through the open cut and of course the leaves that are on the secondary are still providing nutrients.

Any advice ?

8/22/2012 12:29:51 PM

Colorado

See if pulling some root nodes on that secondary will give some slack.If not, then yes- cut it

8/22/2012 12:52:09 PM

El Paso TX.

Just don't accidentally cut the wrong vine !

8/22/2012 1:52:15 PM

West [email protected]

Pulling roots wouldn't work cause the pumpkin has already enveloped the vine under it and its way to heavy to move.

I don't mind snipping the vine but I just want to make sure the pros out way the cons

8/22/2012 1:53:56 PM

West [email protected]

Not sure of how to post pics on this forum so here is a few tries:

http://i446.photobucket.com/albums/qq188/Higgins24/D7096927-1383-4063-A5BF-8757EE8044CA-6281-0000069EEE019F66.jpg

<a href="http://s446.photobucket.com/albums/qq188/Higgins24/?action=view&amp;current=D7096927-1383-4063-A5BF-8757EE8044CA-6281-0000069EEE019F66.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i446.photobucket.com/albums/qq188/Higgins24/D7096927-1383-4063-A5BF-8757EE8044CA-6281-0000069EEE019F66.jpg" border="0" alt="Uploaded from the Photobucket iPhone App"></a>

[IMG]http://i446.photobucket.com/albums/qq188/Higgins24/D7096927-1383-4063-A5BF-8757EE8044CA-6281-0000069EEE019F66.jpg[/IMG]

8/22/2012 2:12:34 PM

West [email protected]

http://i446.photobucket.com/albums/qq188/Higgins24/D7096927-1383-4063-A5BF-8757EE8044CA-6281-0000069EEE019F66.jpg

8/22/2012 2:13:53 PM

Long Island,New York

cut it immediately- it already looks like your stem has been compromized as it looks like theres a cut in the top of the pkn stem likely caused by upward growth and downward anchoring by the vines. you need to cut the roots at the leaf nodal areas for at least 2 ft left and right of the pkn also to free up some slack in the main vine.

8/22/2012 2:57:27 PM

Ashby, MA

Did you put your pumpkin on something before it got too big to move? Most use mill fabric. I use a 4'x4' piece of PT plywood with sand on top. Also, this time of year you'll want to have mouse bait and moth balls around your pumpkin to keep away the mice. Also, cover it with blankets at night and a bed sheet during the day. Good luck!

8/22/2012 3:17:03 PM

West [email protected]

Ok I'm gonna cut the secondary and 1 main vine root on both sides. I live on the west coast of Michigan so I used plenty of beach sand under the pumpkin.

And no there is nothing wrong with the stem right now but a small area where a cumber beetle got a few bites in.

8/22/2012 3:31:56 PM

West [email protected]

I cut the secondary and it spread open a full inch so yeah there was too much tension.

Thanks for the help it may have just saved my pumpkin

8/22/2012 8:13:05 PM