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Middle TN

Ever since I dead headed the secondaries it seems the 3rd stage growth is running rampant! I know Im supossed to trim all that off and I have been but I wonder... If the leaves on the secondary are showing age/damage and the 3rd stage growth is new healthy leaves would it be beneficiary to let the 3rd stage grow? Or would it just slow down the weight gain of my pumpkin? (its OTT is 361 lbs now)
Any thoughts?
Tammy

6/26/2010 8:32:36 PM

Joliet, IL

it is a delicate line in the later stages tammy. too much tert growth equals way too much energy going away from the sink, which is your pumpkin. each tertiary tips thinks it is a main vine and will run and root to clone itself in the possibility of vine damage between itself and the main plant and it will still have a chance to grow and reproduce. in nature this is a great way for the plants to combat disease and bugs like the squash vine borer and still produce. that plant clones itself continuesly. those tertiary tips are taking energy in many directions away from your pumpkin. then again, if you have major leaf damage, new fresh leaves equals more energy from better producing leaves for the whole plant. this is why it is a delicate balance. at a certain point way late in the game, like after day 65 of pumpkin growth i will let some pop terts grow through the most battered section of the plants. not too many, but i try to train a few pop ups into the gaps at later stages for fresh leaves down the stretch. joping better control of powdery mildew will limit that allowed tert. growth to be very limited this year.

6/26/2010 8:59:41 PM

great way to explain things shazzy, Gotta keep them cards close to your chest though haha.... thanks for the tip!

6/27/2010 4:03:44 AM