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Easton, PA

Hi all. I am new to this exciting world of giant pumpkin growing and have a question. My pumkin plant is growing very well, it's out to about 6 feet now and is beginning to put on about 9" per day. The leaves and vine are very healthy but all of the side vines are stunted. It's like they emerged from the main vine and stopped growing. Am I doing somthing wrong or am I just being impatient? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

6/15/2009 1:59:30 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I've had this happen in the past. I'm not sure what causes it. I thought it might have been from root competition from nearby apple trees. Sometimes the secondaries seemed to self terminate into a cluster of stunted male blossoms.
One plant never really came out of it. Another plant started putting out good secondaries about 7-8 feet down the mainvine from the crown.

6/15/2009 3:11:53 PM

Pataskala,OH

I think a lack of nitrogen causes it. Mine did that last year because of a lack of nitrogen.

6/15/2009 3:30:10 PM

Easton, PA

Doug/Nic,
Thanks for responding. Doug, your correct, looks like there are clusters of male blossoms protruding from the nubbed secondary vines. Nic, I just recently began my Nitrogen fertilization program so hopefully this helps.
Now the BIG question, did your plants in the past with this condition produce any good sized pumpkins? I have one 800sq' patch in the backyard and am only growing one plant. Hopefully my season is not going to come to an abrupt end. Please send me come encouraging news. Thanks.

6/15/2009 5:00:22 PM

Winston Salem NC

I had a few plants do this this year. It wasent from lack of N for me, I think it was the genetics of the particular seed. Just a little slower to go. Once the plant passed the 8' mark the secondarys started to take off.

6/15/2009 5:37:57 PM

Easton, PA

Thanks all. Looks like within the next few days I should know. My plant is at the 6' mark and should be hitting 8' by the weekend. Hopefully some secondary vine activity will begin. Thanks again.

6/15/2009 9:09:31 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

On the plant that started putting out good secondaries at the 7-8 ft. mark and thereafter, I ended up with a pumpkin estimated at around 530 lbs. It was pollinated around Aug. 2. With an earlier pollination, it could have been significantly larger. I think you can still get a nice sized pumpkin off the plant, if the secondaries kick in gear. Best of luck with it.

6/15/2009 10:13:46 PM

Pataskala,OH

Thanks for talking about stunted vines one of my plants is stunting sidevines now. lol must be genetics because my plants have alot of nitrogen this year.

6/20/2009 1:23:42 PM