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Dover, DE

if i prune the tertiary vines and bury the secondaries vines,, do the tertiaris grow back or are they done ?

12/18/2009 2:53:41 PM

Western PA

Pretty much No.

A new vine will grow at every single leaf node on a plant in most circumstances. A leaf node is the area where the leaf grows out of the vine.

At each leaf node you will get a leaf, new vine head, tendril, top and bottom tap roots (if you bury your vines). If you pinch off the head of that new vine as soon as it show at the leaf node then in most cases you will not get any more growth from it.

If you wait to long and let the tert vine grow out a little then you get another leaf node which will produce another vine.

NOTE: This in most instances, sometimes you can get new growth in unexpected areas.

12/18/2009 3:51:35 PM

Dover, DE

do i need to clip off the ends of my secondaries before buryng them ????

12/18/2009 5:28:22 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Depend how long they are when you get around to terminating them.
Most folks let the cut ends air dry before burying.
Some years it seems that tertiaries just keep coming.

12/18/2009 6:28:47 PM

Joliet, IL

there will always be some pop up terts. similar to your stump area, there are some leaf junctions that will produce some pop up terts. nothing you can do except regularly get your eyes below leaf canopy level and and check for the new pops up terts. catching them earlier is the key before they cross over vines, grow 5 or more feet and then push up over the canopy. if they do this, follow the new tert to the secondary and cut it there. otherwise its gonna be a jungle. wasted energy is wasted energy and keep pruning them as they show. maybe consider leaving some stay in areas that old leaves have been removed in early september. not sure of the benefit vs wasted energy of letting pop ups grow out in late season, but it is nice to see some new leaves and i think this helps the pumpkin want to grow a little more all the way to the weigh off.

12/20/2009 3:01:31 PM

West Sacramento Ca.

i live where its hot and dry and windy. my old leaves take a beating. my pumpkins need that new growth when it cools down.

12/20/2009 9:58:47 PM

Rhode Island

if you have a target size already planned for your plant then its very important to get the third stage growth pinched ( or cut) off every couple of days while burying the side vines.
its easy to see the difference when picking between the third stage growth and new leaf. after observing a bit you will be able to see the difference.
its important to get these third stage growth vines off the secondaries so more energy goes into developing you plant (main and secondaties ) out to your target lengths and not growing something you dont need.

12/21/2009 8:47:25 AM

Rhode Island

and no once pinched or cut off the third stage growth does not grow back. what you see later in the season are those vines you missed during the initial secondary training and burying.

12/21/2009 8:50:33 AM