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Hicksville,new York, Usa

I am growing an AG and am worried about the angle the pumpkin is off the main vine. I am worried that when the pumpkin gets bigger it will push against the main vine and cause damage to the stem. As this is by far the best pumpkin on my one and only plant I do not want to lose it.

Can I sever the main vine after the pumpkin stem?
This would solve the problem but I wonder if the severed vine would be susceptible to disease and/or rot which could then damage the pumpkin.
The pumpkin is about basketball size now.
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7/14/2008 10:09:59 PM

San Jose [email protected]

it is ok to cut the main after the pumpkin, then spray or dab some alcohol on the cut, all will be ok. but if it is not too late try to train it away from the pumpkin.

by the way my wife grew up in hicksville

7/14/2008 11:45:20 PM

San Jose [email protected]

oh yeah try to leave at least a foot of stem after pumpkin and keep an eye on it, just in case

7/14/2008 11:46:03 PM

Long Island,New York

You can if you have enough plant and vines between the pumpkin and the stump but if you dont have at least 10 feet of main vine I certainly wouldnt unless it was my last option. It also depends on your goals too....all-out giant competition goals? Just get a decent big one? Survive the year? Prove your point to all those Long Islanders who think your a fool?....different moves for different goals.....N. Massapequa here, why did you close my Agway?...lol

7/15/2008 6:08:39 AM

[email protected]

If you can "pull" the pumpkin so the main is curved would help. Mid day in the heat so the vine is supple. Just a little bit every day. Undercut the roots of secondaries around the pumpkin so the main can rise too.

7/15/2008 8:42:23 AM

Wi

Once the pumpkin gets to 50# or so you can move it SLIGHTLY every day to get the desired position. You can do it younger also with styrofoam and a rock, but I find this to be a more scary period.

7/15/2008 9:05:26 AM

milford, CT,

If you decide to pull the fruit forward ...make sure someone is with you to stabilize the stem and vine...you don't want to pop the stem. Move them as a unit and make sure that the secondaries and main vine near the fruit have enough slack to make the move. Good Luck! Mark

7/15/2008 10:07:57 AM

Hicksville,new York, Usa

wOW! tHANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE. I finally got my nerve up and was able to curve the vine after the pumpkin so that I now like its position. It was surprizingly flexible.

Garysand...I live in extreme Northeast Hicksville, near intersection of Woodbury road & south oyster bay road.

LIpumpkin...I didn't close Agway, I'm pissed about it too.
My goal? Grow the biggest damn pumpkin possible!

Thanks Tremor, Chris S. and Milford for your input too!!!!!

7/15/2008 9:09:33 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

I'm actually more scared when the fruit is already growing nice.

If I kill one when trying to move it when it is still small, then I got another female ready in few days a few feet further down the main.

7/17/2008 12:03:33 PM