From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Jacksonville, IL

What opinions do most have for pruning at the stem of the pumpkin; leave it alone, cut secondary vine and leaf, only do it if stem is not laying down correctly?

6/25/2010 11:18:59 PM

Upstate S.C.

If the Leaf is not bothering the pumpkin I would leave it alone, Because it give the pumpkins shade when its young. HOWEVER I have rarely seen it when the leaf doesn't in some way obstuct the pumpkin, SO I cut most of the time. The vine should be fine, if you have turn the fruit correctly,

6/25/2010 11:23:26 PM

El Paso TX.

I've found that you need to trim the leaf off fairly soon after pollination -- The little spikes on the leaf will scratch the outer surface of the new pumpkin and those scratches will continue to get larger as the pumpkin grows making for some fairly ugly scars (for Example -- http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc189/JDFanning_bucket/scar.jpg ) this is a pic of my 851 Fowler x self that is currently growing that I didn't prune until too late !!

6/25/2010 11:58:40 PM

Deer Park WA

We prune off the tendril at axil of each main vine female and leave the side vine and leaf until we know which one on the main is the keeper. Hate to loose the "food factory" if we decide to keep one further don the main.

6/26/2010 1:40:14 AM

wondered the same thing but was going to do as gad's says anyhow

6/27/2010 4:08:12 AM