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Eugene,OR

Does anyone cut off their first secondaries? If so do you do it when they are small, or do you wait until your plant gets big. And, what is your logic? Some years I've cut them...and other years I haven't. I like to keep my stump nice and open, but I also like the idea of having a big fat side vine that otherwise would be cut off. I'm kicking around the idea of cutting off my first secondary on each side once the leaves get old looking...around mid August. What are your thoughts?

5/29/2008 11:08:46 PM

Sandyutahusa

I'm no expert, but it is my thought that sometimes at least the first secondary on the plant tends to want to become a "second main" almost as strong as the first main. This could result in the plant stump Dividing it's nutrient uptake in two directions.Waiting for the third or fourth secondary would more likely backfeed their nutrients to the main and send them on down the line to your prize pumpkin. Just a thought, no proof, just seems logical. Let's see what more experienced growers think.

5/30/2008 12:33:23 AM

Rhode Island

we only cut out a side vine before the fruit if its really close to another or if we need room for the fruit.
other than that we keep all sides from base to fruit.
we do cut the back main off which we do not consider a side vine
pap

5/30/2008 5:36:30 AM

South East

most agressive side vine, i.d keep em on

5/30/2008 6:43:02 AM

Nova Scotia

i find the first few vines to close together and make the plant to hard to manage and i've had stump problems befor and I like to keep area open. I prun all side vines within a foot of base befor they become any real growth so that I have no wasted growth.

5/30/2008 7:22:58 AM

Ohio

Jack LaRue used to cut the first two secondaries off his plants, not sure if he still does it though. I keep all my side vines Russ.

5/30/2008 8:47:42 AM

Utah

I think maybe pinching off the first secondaries when they are small gives an added growth push to the main vine. This would help get the set a certain distance out that most people shoot for. Of course the draw back would be that most people also shoot for a certain number of secondaries between the stump crown and the pumpkin.

5/30/2008 1:20:25 PM

caro mi.

to hijack a post .....how long before you cut off back main ?

5/30/2008 5:36:05 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

What does the back main look like. Is it one of the first secondaries that heads in the opposite direction to the main vine? Thanks for a clarification.

5/31/2008 1:17:15 AM

Buffalo, New York

good ? creek, i dont recall seeing one last year on my plant.

if it is a backwards main, maybe a diamond shape plant is better then a xmas tree, right?

5/31/2008 1:45:11 AM

Colorado Springs.Co

Just a guess, but I think what they mean is the main beyond the pumpkin.

5/31/2008 2:19:15 AM

Ohio

the back main usually comes out near the top, middle of the stump area, the back main usually dont start growing untill later,roughly after the the first couple secondaries start growing out.

5/31/2008 4:14:02 AM

Rhode Island

if you have a special plant that you may never get again and you want the most out of it? plant it in the middle of the patch and grow two pumpkins . one off the main and one off the back main once it has grown the correct distance.

many growers have gone two fruit over 1,000 pounds with this method.

it also allows you to breed two different crosses from the same mother.

5/31/2008 6:31:16 AM

Fairport,NY

Does anyone have a good picture of a "Back Main Vine"? I would like to see what and where it comes from?

5/31/2008 5:33:47 PM

Newmarket, NH USA

I agree with pap I cut the back main and an occasional side if it is in the way of another plant as I grow 4 back to back plants.

5/31/2008 6:50:04 PM

Littleton, Colo

Picture of a " Back Main Vine".....http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=78296 One on the left iz the main....one on the right iz the "Back Main"...lol

6/1/2008 12:10:38 AM

ordinary,VA

lol

6/1/2008 12:28:11 AM

Colorado Springs.Co

bunch of clowns

6/1/2008 2:20:24 AM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

I take the first two secondaries off.

6/2/2008 5:12:51 PM