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Ankeny, Iowa

Hi ,
I hope everyone's season is going well so far. I have a slight problem regarding my largest pumpkin. The pumpkin is growing well and everything it is at about 28 inches in circumferance on day 8. But it was set near a large leaf axil that has a secondary growing out of it as well. So this is causing the pumpkin to grow too close to the main vine. The stem is all ready 90 degrees from the axil, so I don't think I can move the pumpmkin any. I was wondering if there was any way I could move the main vine away from the pumpkin without damagimg it, or if I could just let the pumpkin grow over the vine and have it still reach a decent size. I really don't want to cut it off because it is all ready past the 10 day 1200 pound bench mark. Hopefully this is a good sigan LOL. Any recomendations would be greatly appreciated.

Junior

7/17/2008 10:52:05 AM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

First thing I would do is get rid of that side vine. Then try to move the main vine A LITTLE each day until you get it trained away from the fruit. Only do this later in the day, not in the morning. Let the sun warm the vine up first.

7/17/2008 10:58:57 AM

Somers, CT

I would like to expand on Mark's post. A LITTLE EACH DAY. This means a tweak and do not look back. Get out of the patch immediately until the next late afternoon and do not think, "Maybe another half inch." The stem is very brittle. I am going through this right now and have been doing the same. Good luck. Sounds like you are doing fine.

7/17/2008 11:16:47 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Rob T is making a good point, I learned the hard way. So just a little dont rush it. Good point Rob.

7/17/2008 1:07:41 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Assuming I read this correctly...

If you absolutely cannot move the pumpkin/vine out of the way, one will have to go. You decide which one, lol.

I typically take everything off the node where fruit is growing, except the fruit.

7/17/2008 10:47:14 PM

Ankeny, Iowa

Thanks for the advice everyone. I hope I can fix my problem and grow a decent pumpkin this year. Best luck to all of you and I'll keep you posted on how my pumpkin turns out.

Thanks again,

Junior.

7/18/2008 11:39:28 PM