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Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

Everybody went to town in the last week I was gone to help my mom with her hip surgery. Husband did his best, and kept them sprayed during the last week of 100+ temps and rain on and off every day. Only lost a few leaves to fungal issues. I've removed all leaves with any brown on them, got the wind break up all around the patch.
Each plant is at about 12' for main vine, and has secondary vines at each node witch vary from 1' to 4' in length. They are week 8 from seed and are producing male flowers like crazy and girls have been trying to come. Up until this week I have been removing boys and girls to help let plant put its energy into vine. Now that they are at 12' I'm going to leave them be.
Question 1: As they have secondary vines at each node should I leave all or cut some off? How many to cut off if I cut?
These guys are growing like wild fire.....

6/15/2013 11:25:37 AM

Elk County, PA

I've read lots and lots on this. And from MY READING, I want to emphasize that as opposed to experience. Seems there is a preference for cutting every other. I don't plan on doing this, well because my plant is sitting at 8' and I want as much plant behind me as possible and looks like I'll be getting a 10' to 12' set. So I would say depends on how your plant looks and all that. Also cut the tertiaries.

6/15/2013 8:57:05 PM

East Jordan, MI

We dont cut side vines unless they are in the way of something that we want to keep.

6/15/2013 9:17:24 PM

Lexington, Ky

Side vines will serve as the pumpkins' food factor, leave them all if you have room. I used to cut some side vines for better air flow but learned cutting the vines sometimes increased my chances of disease.

6/17/2013 2:09:14 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Keep as many secondary vines as possible as long as you can still access the main and pumpkin as needed. Prune all tertiary vines growing off of the side vines.

6/17/2013 4:49:04 PM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

Thank you all!!!! I appreciate the help!

6/18/2013 6:24:17 AM