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Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Hi ....another question.... Is there any point in having vines growing past the last fruit On the main?
M last fruit will be at about 16' on the main yet I've heard to grow the vine 30' ( Christmas tree pattern )

Thank you for any help
Joe

6/24/2016 8:49:53 PM

Central NY

Yes.. Makes them grow 12%bigger...

6/24/2016 9:09:35 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

12%....wow wish I knew that. As long as you can swing the main vine (past the pumpkin) away from the pumpkins and future massive shoulders, then it is a good idea to have growth after the pumpkin. Have a look at some of the diaries that show how to adjust the main vine after the fruit. Look in last years diary of Bubba or Countryboy, they both have good pictures of "how to" in last years diaries. Slow and steady when moving vines in our climate, they snap like celery f you don't wait till they warm up in the heat of the day, do it inch by inch over several days, or wait till it is super hot outside....best of luck.

6/26/2016 11:00:31 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

...and to clarify here, most of my big ones have been grown with main vine terminated after the fruit. Mainly due to the limited space I have, also we have had good success doing it that way and now porkchop has me adding 12% to everything we've grown. Our PBs are 1126 lbs and 1124 lbs...dang you porkchop.

6/26/2016 11:57:36 AM

Central NY

Yup.. 12%... Like Qtip says... You can't argue science..

6/26/2016 12:59:53 PM

Walhalla, ND.

Am I understanding this correctly. Terminate the main vine after the pumpkin set, then bring the secondaries around and keep them going past the pumpkin?

6/26/2016 3:18:19 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I have always heard that the plant before the pumpkin contributes the most to the size. I have tried to keep the secondaries before the set as long as possible..and not worried so much about the main. I have used the main after the pumpkin set more as a sink, to avoid the problems of irregular moisture. I have figured the sink will reduce the possibility of blowing the pumpkin up.

6/26/2016 5:56:19 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Maybe Qtip can chime in and let us know where science fits in to the 12% bigger claim...otherwise I'm not buying it.

Sort of Hobbit, all I'm saying is when and if I terminate the main vine after the pumpkin, I continue to let secondaries fill in the space where additional main vine and secondaries would have been if I had not terminated.

6/26/2016 7:31:34 PM

Walhalla, ND.

I have 5 plants growing, my max capable width is 26ft. 2 plants max length is 26ft, 3 plants I can go up to 35ft length. I like the idea of terminating the main after pumpkin set. This is my first year so I'm open to all suggestions. Also I could use the extra 12% weight gain. This morning I pollinated a 1227 Fleser at 12ft. I have another 1227 Fleser I'll be pollinating in the next couple days should I do one with the main vine terminated and the other with it not?

6/26/2016 9:07:21 PM

Walhalla, ND.

I have 5 plants growing, my max capable width is 26ft. 2 plants max length is 26ft, 3 plants I can go up to 35ft length. I like the idea of terminating the main after pumpkin set. This is my first year so I'm open to all suggestions. Also I could use the extra 12% weight gain. This morning I pollinated a 1227 Fleser at 12ft. I have another 1227 Fleser I'll be pollinating in the next couple days should I do one with the main vine terminated and the other with it not?

6/26/2016 9:10:36 PM

Walhalla, ND.

There we go again double entry.

6/26/2016 9:11:18 PM

Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Ok I understand now, I've seen what you're talking about from some pictures I've looked at in the past.
I will check out the diaries too. Thanks so much!

6/26/2016 9:47:52 PM

Mn

North Shore Boyz - Science says that the "theory of 12%" or the long version "the theory of 12% vine to pumpkin location ratio" is at its optimum growth cycle when you sing and say warm fuzzies to your pumpkin. Most plants respond well to just a simple "Good Morning, how was your evening?" when you see them in the morning. Science states that hormones from extra vine length past the fruit and human communication with the fruit will greatly increase the plants size by almost always 12% - hence the reason for the name "theory of 12%" You cant argue with science.

6/27/2016 10:17:59 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Yeah, I heard about the theory of 12%. It was in one of my kids bedtimes books and also applies to pet dragons if you feed them enough... theory is still being tested on unicorns.

6/27/2016 11:36:38 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

OK, I can sing and say warm fuzzies if that translates into 12% gains, but I'm with Luke on this one and will wait for more conclusive results from the unicorn tests before altering anything in the patch, since I already sing and say warm fuzzies...

6/27/2016 12:18:40 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Hobbit and Joe Coyote, I just posted a diagram in my diary with growing patterns, hope it helps.

6/27/2016 12:32:05 PM

Walhalla, ND.

Thanks North Shore..
The Hobbit..

6/27/2016 7:10:02 PM

Walhalla, ND.

I checked out your diagram. Thanks for that info. I have 2 1227 Flesers, I'll try one with and one without.
Thanks again North Shore Boys...
The Hobbit...

6/27/2016 7:29:43 PM