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Reed Point Montana

my plants mains are about 1-4ft out and theres is various sidevines and a back vine growing from the stump that id like to prune, is it ever to early to snip these or would it be better to leave them to help support the plant till its a little bigger?

6/24/2009 2:09:21 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

You definitely want to leave the secondary vines on. You may want to terminate them in late August, but you need them to get enough plant to convert sunlight into pumpkin. Some people shoot for a 15' maximum secondary length. Train them out to the side in a Christmas tree pattern: look at grower diaries to see how it is done. Don't let the tertiary vines grow off the secondary vines, or you patch will go to vine only and you will have a mess. The back main can be trained around to run to the side as a secondary.

6/24/2009 5:13:20 AM

milford, CT,

Eventually you are going to want to trim the growth off the stump. It is much easier when it is smaller. I usually like to have have the 1st foot nice and clean. Apply fungicide paste to the wounds and they will scar up nicely. Mark

6/24/2009 10:38:34 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Don't terminate your sides until they are at least 10 to 12 feet long. They are the main source of food to your fruit. No side...no pumpkin.

6/27/2009 7:56:11 PM