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Buffalo, New York

My main has reached its 29-30' boundary. When my fruit (squash) hit it's day 10-12, just about all of the secondary vines past the fruit slowed down to a crawl.

If I terminate the main, will this encourage the side vines to grow faster to fill in empty space or should i turn the main and let it keep growing?

7/16/2012 4:49:48 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

I doubt it. Once the pumpkin starts growing it just about takes all the energy of the whole plant. Just my experiance!! I do keep some secondaries going just to make the plant feel young. Not sure if it helps but its a piece of mind for me!!

7/16/2012 4:56:37 PM

Colorado

I like keeping the main as long as possible.Its a good sighn if the fruit is slowing post fruit growth.

7/16/2012 6:25:20 PM

Rhode Island

jeremy
terminating the main will allow the sides to grow a bit faster. how much of course depends on your soil and feeding program.
usually the sides before the fruit fill in much faster than the sides after the fruit because a good growing fruit will take a lot of juice from the main (plus any sides still filling out )and therefore the growth after the fruit will slow.
personally? i like keeping the main and looping it around the patch, especially benefical once all other areas in the patch has been filled with sides.
that main wont grow very fast once the fruit starts to pull juice from the main and sides before it.
if i terminate the main at all? its mid september.

7/16/2012 6:40:56 PM

Buffalo, New York

I have seen vines slow down after fruit set....but not slow down this fast.

Thanks guys, I'll leave her for now and I'll keep panicking!

7/16/2012 9:06:48 PM

Muddy Waters

Sounds great Pap! I think I will let the Maine Vines circle the greenhouse till they lap each other.Should be sept. by then.

7/16/2012 10:22:01 PM

Wisconsin

Pap....I thought you guys terminated the vine at the pumpkin. Have you changed your thoughts on this in recent years and if you have.....what was your reason?

7/16/2012 10:48:48 PM

Lexington, Ky

I can only think of one reason to terminate the main at the pumpkin...to prevent stem stress. If positioning isn't a problem, let the main grow.

7/17/2012 8:00:08 AM