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St Matthews, SC

Recently i had removed a few old spent leaves down by the stump. Shortly after it started pushing new side vines at the first couple leaf nodes down by the stump. The growth habit on these newer vines appears to resemble teritorial (sp)vines. Just curious whether most growers remove these, to possibly allow better circulation and sun around the stump, or is this growth better to keep being that there would be more leaves to feed the fruit and plant. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks - Brandon

7/19/2010 3:53:13 PM

Nova Scotia

Most people remove to allow as you said air flow and sun to the stump

7/19/2010 3:54:56 PM

St Matthews, SC

ok thanks!

7/19/2010 4:00:06 PM

British Columbia

I like filling in the area behind the stump with rooted vines. There always , at least for me, seems to be an area behind the planting site that is a little bare of vines and roots, caused by the directionality of the main vine growth. I do bend the first couple of secondaries to the back a bit but I have taken to letting one of those little vines grow off the stump area and train it to the back. I figure this gives a little more engine power right at the core of that big root engine that drives my Cinderella pumpkin. If leaves start to overlap and look like they might reduce air flow and lead to disease I just cut the extras out. On one of my plants this year I have encouraged tertiary vines of the first and second secondary to create more roots sooner in that area back near the stump. I just figure you might as well get those roots going asap.

7/19/2010 6:25:02 PM