From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Minnesota

Has anybody grown the main vine and end it at the pumpkin? if so what were the results. I'm considering all my options, I don't have alot of room.

9/28/2009 8:32:12 PM

Elmira, N,Y,

yes I did that this year and its not the biggest but the best I have ever grown 280 lbs stil growing.

9/29/2009 5:11:16 AM

Wi

1245.5 was grown that way in my patch. 15% heavy off 1428. That said still not sure I'm a fan of that method.

9/29/2009 10:03:38 AM

Minnesota

Thats good to hear for people with limited room. Thanks

9/29/2009 7:47:06 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Richard, I think it was pretty common practice several years back for growers to cut the vine past the pumpkin. Alot of growers still do it if you check out the diaries closely.

Here is a good example;

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=121500

And this pumpkin is on a secondary...scary what it might have done on the main.

10/1/2009 3:00:25 PM

Rhode Island

the key to a pitchfork pattern ( terminating main at the fruit, allowing a set of sides before the fruit to loop out and around the pumpkin - also allow third stage growth to grow off those two sides after the pumpkin)is not really done as a space saver. it is done to prevent any future stem stress caused by tight main and sides against the fruit.
the method just makes life a hole lot easier by eliminating future plant management and/or potential season ending problems,
to me its the way to go.

10/2/2009 4:22:04 AM

Minnesota

o'k

10/2/2009 12:34:04 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

For your small space Richard, you should consider using the flag pattern and still terminating the main at the fruit....no more 3 or 4 plants in that tiny space.

10/2/2009 12:38:14 PM

Wi

Pap brings up a good point. I used the pitchfork not by choice. Horrible positioning of the fruit forced me to cut the main.

Also for me it was not done as a space saver. I still swept a bunch of vines (no third growth) well past the fruit for probbaly 550 sqft of total plant.

10/2/2009 12:55:03 PM