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Minneapolis, MN

My pumpkin is about the size of a mini-basketball... about 13-15 feet down on the mainstem of my plant.

Should I cut off the secondary vine at this node (the vine is growing perpendicular to the main vine, thus making the pumpkin stem grow at a 45... which I'm slowly going to try to correct)?

Should I cut off the leaf at this node?

When I cut off, how far 'out' do I do it? Do I cut things right, or only a half-inch out from the node? Or do I go further away, like 2-5 inches? Or even further?

Any advice would be great.

7/22/2009 10:41:14 AM

Cincinnati, OH

I cut my secondary vine about 3/4 inch from the node, seemed to work well for me. I left the leaf and trained it further away from the pumpkin by wedging in a peice of styrofoam. Wait for expert advice from one of the experienced growers here.

7/22/2009 10:49:08 AM

milford, CT,

If the leaf is going to create a possible twist in the vine from swaying back and forth ..get rid of it..you should have enough leaves to afford to get rid of one to save the headache of a main vine split. When these fruit start to crank stem stress is the main issue..Mark

7/22/2009 1:39:56 PM

Cincinnati, OH

Snip.....Snip.....mine will be gone soon.

7/22/2009 2:00:59 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

If the vine is on the same side as the pumpkin, defiantly it has to go. I leave the leaf as long as possible but it should be removed before it rubs the fruit and scratches it.

7/22/2009 9:56:14 PM