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Ottawa, Canada

My pumpkin isn't at 90 degrees to the main and might end up crushing the main downstream from my fruit. I'm trying to slowly pull it away but am afraid that I'll snap the stem. What would the impact of losing that part of the plant?

Thanks

7/23/2010 11:14:54 PM

Georgetown, Ontario

There's a lot of growers that cut the main just after the fruit so they don't have to worry about stem stress. If you have lots of plant behind the pumpkin I don't think it would make much difference.

7/24/2010 7:00:17 AM

Charlotte, NC

Losing what? The main vine after the fruit or the stem itself?

Losing main after the fruit is okay. Losing the stem is not good, but depending on the severity of the break can sometimes be repaired, or at least halted from getting worse.

7/24/2010 7:09:25 AM

East Jordan, MI

If it's hot out, it will bend pretty easy.
This is my first year, so I may not know what the heck I'm doing, but this is what worked for me.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=136015
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=136019
After my vine was about 4 feet past the pumpkin. I put a bamboo stake about an inch past and opposite the pumpkin and another one on the same side as the pumpkin about 3 inches toward the stump. This kept the critical stem section stablized. Then in the afternoon (around 4 pm) every afternoon and twice about 3 hours apart on Sat and Sun, I lifted the vine off of the ground all the way to the stake and moved the tip a couple of inches. I did this on 4 "practice vines" with no pumpkin early on in the season while I was guiding side vines and figured out that the longer the vine you are moving (to a point) the more flexible it is (until it gets pretty thick). I also figured out that it's EASY to crack one if you try to force it.

7/24/2010 7:52:19 AM

Belgium Europe

Losing the main after the fruit is OK ???
I think losing or pruning any part of the plant bigger than an inch or so will cost you some pumpkin weight. Don't think that losing main after the stump with sidevines, leaves, taproots etc. is OK.

7/24/2010 8:11:17 AM

Soldiers Grove, WI

Opinions vary! Personally I have experienced bad results with ending the main directly after the fruit set. The fruit will grow rapidly for a while, but then the growth seems to dwindle out. I like to have 20% of the plant mass past the fruit. This younger foliage past the fruit will pay for itself late season with increased photosynthesis and added carbohydrate storage. Thats my opinion!

7/24/2010 10:49:35 AM

Honesdale Pa USA

Cut at fruit ,let secondaries behind fruit grow out. If possible.

7/24/2010 10:27:53 PM