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Location

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San Jose

My keeper pumpkin lies 5 ft from my main vine's end. There are 5 large 24 inch diameter leaves--my patch is small so leaves are at a premium. If I cut the vine right after the
pumpkin, then it's super easy for me to care/measure it, etc.
Is there much advantage to have some vine after the pumpkin or is it minimal?

7/20/2023 4:39:01 PM

Syracuse, NY

If your patch is already small then every leaf will matter more with respect to if it were any larger. Just think of how much of the sun's energy is captured by 3.1416 square feet X 5 = 15.708 square feet...
Plants have it all figured out - I say keep your leaves and live with any challenges. It could mean the difference between a new PB and the old one - or lesser. Good Luck, nonetheless. PS - I'm intrigued by the fact that a 24-inch-diameter circle's SF is oddly 3.1416 SF...VERY close to Pi! eg

7/20/2023 6:37:27 PM

Colorado

How many square feet is your plot. How far out on the main is the pumpkin.

7/21/2023 1:01:02 AM

Grittyville, WA

Maybe you can bend that last section of vine out of the way.

7/21/2023 8:57:56 AM

San Jose

Joe, patch is 12 x 20, this is the first pollination sitting at 16 ft (culled the 2nd pollination at 19 ft) so only 2 choices this year. Even though a small patch I usually get a decent 700-900 lb kin.
Kins, I do have it bent now as best I could, but still in the way.

7/21/2023 10:12:27 AM

Grittyville, WA

Crimp it and bend it backwards 180 degrees, might gain you 20-50 lbs, difficult to know though. If it breaks off completely then oh well! (On a warm afternoon, when the turgor is low, its ok to squeeze the vine flat as long as its mostly connected it can heal, you know the routine....) What doesnt kill em makes em stronger.

7/21/2023 12:04:57 PM

San Jose

Kins & Pump Pal Thanks. I could run the vine 5 ft out on
my patio, but, I wouldn't be able to bury the leaf nodes.
And don't say jackhammer, lol!

7/21/2023 2:29:42 PM

Syracuse, NY

Can I say 'cat litter trays, full of dirt'?
Whoooaaahhh! G'luck---eric g

7/21/2023 3:26:29 PM

Colorado

i wont speculate on how much it will or wont hurt the final weight.But you might be better off making your life easier terming the main.

7/21/2023 11:06:11 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

5 feet? Cut it, avoid the scratches and extra tension on the front.

7/22/2023 9:27:12 AM

Grittyville, WA

I'd say 100 lbs at most. But remeber Leif grew a 400 lb kin on a plant that had ten leaves or whatever. Well, lets face it I sm guessing (plus I guarantee my memory isnt 100% accurate).

7/22/2023 6:36:08 PM

San Jose

Thanks all, I ended up bending it severely in yesterday's 97 degree heat, it did still kink but should work, if not then that's ok too!

7/23/2023 12:57:31 PM