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Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

In prior years I have cut tendrils off of my pumpkin plants. I've never cut of flowers. I'm wondering if I should do both this year. But also is there a danger of infecting the pant with a soil born disease etc by cutting off the tendrils and flowers? Any thoughts?

4/28/2012 7:45:20 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

I've always cut off tendrils from the plants.

4/28/2012 8:38:55 AM

Rhode Island

we always cut off those (FEELERS)tendrils because we vine bury and they only get in the way.
its my opinion that the plant has these feelers (tendrils) to support the vines once they are on the ground--if you grow like the field pumpkin farmers? you need these tendrils to help anchor the plant during the season but, if you vine bury? you dont want them.

as far as male flowers? its a timing thing for us. in other words once we know we no longer will need the males? we just pinch them off at the same time we are vine burying---( while they are very tiny)
the same goes for small pumpkins --- we remove all side vine pumpkins as they appear, and the rest of main vine pumpkins once we have pollinated three on the main starting at 10-12 ft from base.

pruning when flowers,pumpkins or tendrils are tiny has little effect because its such a tiny cut, and should not invite any disease problems.
should larger cuts such as removing larger pumpkins or removing trouble some vines take place ? we spray the cuts with zero tol.

4/28/2012 8:39:48 AM

Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

Thank you.

4/30/2012 6:38:23 AM

Stanwood, Washington

Make sure that you do that "odd burying" because if you don't you are likely to see several nodes that end up not rooting. And you woun't get any roots off the top of the vine either.

4/30/2012 7:10:59 PM