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Preston UK

Having just lost one of my pumpkins to a split main vine I wondered if there was any thoughts on cutting off the main vine after the chosen pumpkin had formed... the theory being it would reduce the stress on the vine. Anyone tried it? Thoughts?

8/28/2011 2:55:29 AM

Oakland,Maine

I did that to all four of my plants based on the advice of a much more experienced grower here in Maine and my plants are doing fine. My daily weight gains are good (depending on which plant and how the weather has been) they are doing 10-20 lbs per day. Made the pumpkin so much easier to get to as well. And if you don't terminate the secondaries on the vine opposite the fruit set you can train them around the pumpkin to where the main past the fruit would have been.

8/28/2011 4:50:01 AM

Breslau, Ontario, Canada

Hey Marko,
I believe it's a fairly common practice to terminate the main vine after the pumpkin.
This year I have 1 that I did this to and last year all mine were. I allow the position of the fruit relative to the main vine determine if I will terminate it or not. If it looks like its going to be a problem...it gets the axe

8/28/2011 5:50:50 AM

Preston UK

Hmmm worth a try then. Any advice on how long a piece of vine to leave; 6"? 12"? or more.

8/28/2011 6:01:18 AM

Johnston, R.I.

I have been cutting the main at the pumpkin for the last 3 years, works well for me..

8/28/2011 6:11:10 AM

Preston UK

I suppose the $64,000 dollar question would be what is the biggest pumpkin grown on a vine that has been cut off?

8/28/2011 7:51:09 AM

(rocky) Bonney Lake Wa.

Ditto to Norm. it also cuts (no pun intended) vine stress issues in half.

8/28/2011 9:26:40 AM

Frankfort Ohio

i did it on mine this year then adjusted my fruit straight with the main no stress at all

8/28/2011 9:47:16 AM

Redmond, Washington; U.S.A.

But if you do have to cut it off you can only tape 1 Gatorade bottle to it when you go to the weigh-off. Lol

8/30/2011 11:50:48 PM

Ashland, KY

Newbie follow up question-I've read here that there is an optimal distance from the stump to the fruit for best growth and development. If a longish stalk (from stump to fruit) is important, then why lop off the nutrient source that is feeding the stalk and fruit? Is it simply that the nodal root systems are more than sufficient to compensate for the lopped-off main root system? So then, shouldn't the stalks past the root be allowed to grow significantly past the fruit? But then, don't some folks also keep stalk past the fruit cut as well? Arrgghhhh. My brain hurts! Perhaps we need a formula relating pumpkin mass to necessary surface area of leaves and roots!

Thanks
EP

8/31/2011 9:30:09 PM

Ashland, KY

oops, correction to one sentence:
So then, shouldn't the stalks past the FRUIT be allowed to grow significantly past the fruit?

8/31/2011 9:39:59 PM