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Lombard, IL

I wanted to run my latest pruning plan by the experts. I need to carefully cut the anchoring vines on both sides of the pumpkin, right? How many feet in each direction? On my two best pumpkins I have leaves growing right next to the stem. It makes for great shade but I am afraid they might mess with the pumpkin stem somehow. Do those have to go as well? I do have the pumpkins shaded with 4 poles and a tarp so losing the leaves is not going to hurt in the shade department.

Also, some of the oldest leaves on the base of my best plant are starting to look really old tired and worn out. These are the only leaves affect and it is just a few here and there. I feed and spread fungicide and insecticide regularly so I doubt it is a disease or pest. Maybe they are just old? Should I cut them? I couple of them couldn't possibly be contributing any more, can they?

7/18/2007 9:49:09 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Mom, I would try to cut as many as it allows the vine to rise level up to the pumpkins peduncle(Stem). You may have to keep lifting up the vine as the pumpkins grows.

Yes those leaves need to go. They will eventually begin to rub on the pumpkin and cause a surface injury.

Go to the general message board. There is good current discussion about covering fruit with white sheets.

Old leaves at this time of year is natural. You can trim out the old growth. The plant will shortly try to send out shoots from the crown area. These shoots can be trained to fill in the empty areas. You need to control this new growth just like the other parts of the plant.

7/18/2007 10:59:50 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Undercutting roots for 2-4 feet is fine for now but if the fruit is really rocking keep a constant eye on the main. If it doesn't have enough give you can undercut a little more. Don't forget that the secondary vines will hold the main down so a few roots on them might need pruning too at some point.

As the pumpkin grows still more leaves will eventually have to go. Scratches develop on the pumpkin skin if the leaves are wind blown across the soft flesh.

7/18/2007 5:39:45 PM

Lombard, IL

Good point about the secondary vines. I thought that while inspecting the plant yesterday, but forgot to post about it.

7/18/2007 9:36:51 PM