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Minneapolis, MN

PumpkinA is on a the mainvine @ about 23 feet out. Not particularly pretty or large nor obviously growing at ridiculous rates. About 10-20 days old (didn't pollinate it myself, as it was a backup, so I'm not sure) and in a good place for me to 'have' it (easy to access, not on other vines, etc). Decently far from the SVB attack.
http://externaluse.federerphotography.com/bigpumpkins/PumpkinA_2009.jpg

PumpkinB is on a secondary vine @ 5 feet on secondary vine (which in turn is connected at about 5 feet on main vine)... considerably bigger, nearly perfectly round, had a spurt about a week back where it went from volleyball side to near-beach ball in less than a week. About 25 days old (did even notice it existed until it was bigger than a softball). Bad location with tons of secondaries all around. Does not seem to be growing as fast recently (since the SVB) and the secondary connects right at the 'heart' of the SVB infestation on my main.
http://externaluse.federerphotography.com/bigpumpkins/PumpkinB_2009.jpg


Add to it the SVB attack I had (http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=6&p=309167) and I'm not quite sure what to do... I feel culling should probably happen in order to stop wasting energy on the non-bigun ... but I don't have enough experience to choose.

My gut says 'remove the sidevine pumpkin and the mainvine one will really take off'... but it's tough to cull a pumpkin that is perfectly round and probably 3x as large as the one I'd be keeping.

Advice?

8/5/2009 7:49:19 PM

Hot West Tennessee

I had the same thing on mine , culled the secondary to day.
Hardest pumpkin chore to date. This my secound year and I only have 3 Plants. Mine were main 65" cc and secondary 56" cc. Main has stem issues and a small crack were stem spreads into pumpkin. Hope I won't regret it. Good luck

8/5/2009 10:26:22 PM

Cincinnati, OH

I am going to cut my punky soon in favor of some late pollinators. Punky has stopped growing, but my vine is going crazy with new growth. I too, had the major borer problem which caused me to terminate several vines before the pumpkin. My rookie advice from what I have seen with my plant...choose the one that has the most leaves behind it and in front of it. Middle of the road is probably whee you want to be.

8/6/2009 8:15:25 AM