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formerly RGG

I would like to get a few knowledgeable opinions as to the number of days post pollination it is best to have most or all of your secondaries terminated by to achieve optimum pumpkin growth. I have heard maximum weight gains come around 30 days post pollination. So would that be a good target date or is sooner than that better ?I do realize that in actual practice for many growers in confined spaces, growth must be halted whenever the allotted space or bed is filled. But growers with unlimited space may just want to grow until that "sweet time" when it is best to be directing everything possible into swelling up a big kin.Please let me know your opinion.

6/29/2016 9:45:08 PM

Colorado

Tennessee I just read my Wisconsin growers newsletter and they talked to some heavy hitters(I'm heavy but cant hit) about do they term the main vine,how long they let the secondaries grow etc. Most don't terminate the main for a long time after fruit set and they spider pattern the closest secondaries before the fruit to fill in the fart end of the space. The thinking is those secondaries are key for late fruit growth. Also if all vine tips are pruned the hormones that the growth tips produce will signal the plant to go into maturity which will cost you long range weight gains. If you term everything at once you may hydrolicaly blow/foam your plants stump

6/30/2016 6:12:59 PM

formerly RGG

I was planning on letting the main grow for a while or maybe all season and will end most secondaries as they reach the limits of my raised bed. My secondaries will take a few weeks to finish filling in available space. After that I may see what I can do to let one or two of them continue to aid with late season plant health. Thank you Cojoe.

6/30/2016 7:31:04 PM

Rudolph

I start cutting secondaries at day 10 with the intent to have them all cut off by day 20, you're growing fruit after day 20 not foliage, if you read Matt's literature about anthesis(probably didn't spell that right) it'll say the cells of your fruit stop multiplying around day 18 and will start to expand/grow, so with that in mind you should shoot for all termination by day 20 of vines thus is what I did in 2015, I even cut that mains off.

7/3/2016 5:04:24 PM

Central NY

Ooo... Good info... Hey mellow... Did u terminate any before day 20?.. What did the other 2000+ growers do??...

7/3/2016 5:33:38 PM

Central NY

.. Er.. Before day 10?

7/3/2016 5:35:03 PM

Rudolph

The 2185 was 100% terminated at day 22
The 1965 was 100% terminated at day 18
My other 2 fruit that split were 100% terminated before day 20 as well

7/3/2016 8:20:52 PM

Rudolph

I start terminating vines at day 10, I do 2-4 a day

7/3/2016 8:30:11 PM

Rudolph

The 2185 was terminated a little later became hail struck the main a few feet past the set so I had to train a secondary as the main

7/3/2016 8:31:40 PM

Central NY

10-4... Thanks

7/3/2016 9:53:05 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

LOL, cojoe said the "fart end of the space"!!! Gotta luv them Colorado boys!! Peace, Wayne Grow em BIG!!!

7/4/2016 12:09:03 AM

Walla Walla Wa.

Is that 20 days from the first one was pollinated or the last one?

7/4/2016 12:37:50 AM

formerly RGG

Thank you for all the good information guys.

7/5/2016 11:14:20 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Fun read!

7/5/2016 6:56:12 PM