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New Zealand

hi guys,
after losing all the first kins i have 2 new ones on the vine....... problem.
the smaller one is 20 odd feet out on the main vine and the vine is terminated. the bigger one is 15 odd ft on the first secondary and is/was doing well until i kinked the vine today.
please see photos on my diary.
im at a loss with what to do....... do i keep the large kin on the secondary growing even though the vine is damaged, or go with the little kin 20 odd feet out on the main, and...... to make it worse, i had already terminated the main vine 1 foot behind the kin... not good.
so as it stands now, neither pumpkin is in an ideal situation. im not sure which one to cut off.
any advice would be great.
i have till late march till the weigh off.

cheers

1/3/2011 1:26:02 AM

new middletown ohio

keep the one on the main. the vine after the fruit does'nt do very much. If you must move the fruit, do it in the hottest part of the day when the vine is limp. steve

1/3/2011 9:23:00 AM

SE Minnesota

I would keep the one on the main as well, the "kink" will slow you down some for sure...you may also want to relieve some pressure on your vines around the pumpkin as well...good luck..jim

1/3/2011 10:13:01 AM

Upa Creek, MO

How many days old are they? Maybe since you only have 2, give them some more time before you decide which to remove, but I am leaning towards the main vine since it is healthy (no kink).

1/3/2011 11:06:17 AM

Indiana

I dont think the vine kink is that big of a deal. I cannot say I have ever noticed where something like that causes a problem.

1/3/2011 12:36:36 PM

New Zealand

thanks guys,
the kins are about 10 days to 14 days old.
i also have a tendency to keep the 1 on the main vine, but the big one on the secondary seems to be growing faster.
i will leave them both on for another week and see what happens.
will update photos again then with a picture of the kink.
cheers

1/4/2011 12:03:06 AM

East Jordan, MI

I don't know from experience, but I've read in a couple of places that 'kins on a secondary tend can outperform one on the main in the beginning, but fall short in the long run.

1/4/2011 5:53:20 PM

New Zealand

oh no....
i cut off the big pumpkin on the secondary (a few days ago) to go with the smaller one on the main..... please see pics, the smaller one is now the same size as the cut one, BUT it changed shape into a car inner tube thing and rolled back on its self and mashed the vine feeding it.
i have propped it up and straightened it but the damage is done.
will it still grow well? or just get by......
should i cut this one too and start another one?..... i still have 2 1/2 months before the weigh off...
what are your thoughts?
the vine is very healthy, vigorous and large so i could do it.
or just let it do its thing and try again next year.
at least i have learnt lots about damaged vines etc. by the way..... the kink on the original pumpkin has healed into hard vine "wood" and the vine from that point is doing very well..... so i could of gone with that original kin.
but this time its really mashed.

at least i will have lots of seeds.

cheers for any advise given

1/14/2011 6:34:34 PM

New Zealand

ps the re is a weigh off in late march and another in late april. so i still have the time for the april show.

1/14/2011 6:36:05 PM

New Zealand

"there is a weigh off"

1/14/2011 6:38:30 PM