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Mount Prospect,illinois

Nice problem i guess, but am i the only one who has issues when culling? Am i culling the right ones? what if the one i keep aborts? should i keep the one in the better position but closer to the stump? Will the plant blow up if i cull the wrong one (dont touch the blue wire!!)
I am questioning which one i keep though. I have one in great position perpendicular to the main vine but it is about 8-10 feet from the stump (it also looks the best). I have 3 others further out that are not in as good an angle to the main vine. I am leaning towards keeping the good positioned one. any advise?

7/14/2009 8:58:59 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

Keep the one that is positioned the best that way you won't have to worry about slowly moving the fruit. It's a gamble that you have to make. Also consider the shape of the pumpkin and if you think it's able to really make it when it really starts to grow, good luck.

7/14/2009 10:15:12 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Picking up the culling knife is always hard.

Good positioned one is my choice too.

7/14/2009 10:37:22 AM

Sequim, WA

OK, you mentioned nothing about growth rates, or whether you were able to make a particular cross you wanted to get. Stem angles can be slowly corrected over time, so you have several factors to consider. I've never had a plant blow up after culling fruit, however I have had the one I planned to keep abort.......So...you wanted to grow giant pumpkins eh? I guess you thought you knew what you were getting yourself in to.....

7/14/2009 12:04:43 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Hey tiller,
The "blowing up" comment was just a joke. I was trying to give a funny mental picture of a plant exploding. The best positioned one was at 22" at 10 days. It is the best one (growth wise) so far. I cant/dont grow really big ones due to the lack of sun/size of garden etc. I got one over #300 last year so we are not talking world records. This plant is a sibling of the Beauchemin 1314 and that is more than good enough for me. It was selfed at pollination.
Thanks Okiegall and Kenny. I still hate "doing the deed".

7/14/2009 2:03:43 PM

Buffalo, New York

we all hate it man.....

7/15/2009 2:26:01 AM