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Bristol R.I. USA

When is the best time to start deadheading the side vines. Last year I terminated them after pollination and do fell that I could gotten a bigger fruit if I had more leaves. So this year i'd like to let some of the side vines grow a little more and see where it goes. My question is how long do you let the side vines grow and when is the best time to terminate the vines. I always keep my main vine going for the entire season. Any new thoughts?

6/30/2011 11:19:20 AM

Pataskala,OH

I prune them when I run out of space. It does not mean it will end the growth forever. If you want more leaves later on as the plant gets old fertilize with a higher nitrogen fertilizer and it can shoot out new growth anywhere. I don't know if there is a best time to prune it depends on the health and size of the plant ext..

6/30/2011 11:51:57 AM

Central Minnesota

I can't say my way is right or wrong I guess but I have a preset distance for each secondary of 12ft or 14ft. When they get to 10ft or 12ft I terminate them and after they finish off growing the last couple leaves they are at the desired mark and I bury the end of the vine. Of course those leaves get huge after termination. I usually hope to have have all of the secondaries behind the pumpkin terminated by day 30. It doesn't always work that way though.

6/30/2011 1:28:53 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Kenny, one other thought...when you do start yer secondary terminations...be careful!!! Do NOT terminate too many at one time...the redirection of growth into the fruit can be terminal!!! Peace, Wayne

6/30/2011 11:16:01 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Kenny, for what its worth on a flag pattern plant I allow my secondaries to grow 15-18 feet and on larger xmas tree or modified xmas tree plants I allow the secondaries to be 12' each.

30 days after fruit set is my target date to terminate vines....and Wayne is right.....1 vine termination per day.

7/1/2011 12:38:20 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

Do you terminate the main also.

7/1/2011 2:57:13 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Not usually Kenny but I have in the past to eleviate stem stress that I did not address earlier...grower fault.

7/1/2011 9:09:20 PM