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Sleepy Hollow, New York

Hi,

I know very little about gardening (but I'm learning). The first important lesson I've learned is that pumpkins take over a small garden.

I have a garden that is 25' x 35'. I planted tomatoes, peppers, etc. Everything was going fine until I planted three little pumpkin plants ... they've gone bezerk.

However, I'm willing to let them have the garden. I want to have some pumpkins, but what should I do? They're starting to go into the neighbor's yard! What's all this about burying the vine. Can I cut it? What should I do to maintain a small, healthy patch? Help!

7/11/2008 9:37:24 PM

[email protected]

You need to make some decisions. If you're growing Dill's Atlantic Giants you have enough room for one plant. Choose the best one & remove the rest. Depending on where the main vine is situated you might be able to keep a few of the smaller vegies.

7/11/2008 10:07:35 PM

Taylorsville, California

I am no expert but I can give you a few tips. The vines will send out a root at every leaf node(both sides of the vine,bottom and top) so by burying the vines you are encouraging secondary rooting to give your pumpkin more food! You should prune your plant back to a main vine growing outward from the stalk and the secondary vines that grow off that main should be trained perpendicular to the main with all other vines (tetiary)cut as soon as they begin to grow. Any vine can be terminated by cutting the end off and burying it. If possible set your main pumpkin or pumpkins on the main vine. Look at pics in growers diarys or the photo gallery for a better understanding! Good luck,
Auston
also,, your 25X35 garden would be a good size garden for 2 giant pumpkin plants, growing towards eachother from opposite ends of the garden.

7/11/2008 10:11:19 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

If these are just carving pumpkins...pepo species, I wouldn't worry about burying vines. You can cut vines as they get too far out.

7/11/2008 10:40:05 PM