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central Nc

I have a small plant about this size. Main was broken (I knew better but did it anyway) about 13 feet out. I have 2 sets, one about 11 feet on the main, one 6 or 7 feet down the main, then 3 feet out on secondary.

The secondary is in beautiful position, easy to manipulate. The main is a problem. Curvy stem, angle to vine is really small. Both are a week old.

Advice, assuming neither abort? Does a broken main factor here? Would I lose that much weight on such a small plant on a secondary? How long should I keep both to see if it gets better?

Just want to get to finish line with goal of at least 500#. Late season failure got me last year.

6/16/2019 9:12:18 AM

Morgantown, WV

500 is no problem on a secondary, so don't worry there. In my experience, they grow fine, but the stem will not enlarge nearly as much as if it were a main vine fruit. I broke the tip on my 1337B this season, and will be training a secondary as the new main, just what happens sometimes.

If your goal is 500 or better, I'd go with the pumpkin that is less of a problem early on, and treat it well, you'll be fine!

6/17/2019 6:51:22 AM

central Nc

Thanks Dustin. And give em to what....20 DAP to do a final assessment? A little bigger than softball size now.

6/17/2019 9:38:42 AM

Bloomington, IN USA

Usually at 20 DAP you figure that you ought to be safe from the fruit aborting, so that might be the right time.
I am assuming that the 2 blossoms were fairly equivalent as far as configuration and number of lobes.
One thing I have heard, if you are comparing the 2 fruits, the ones on secondaries tend to grow faster early.
You can still get a large fruit on a secondary but yours is still rather close in.
Last year I was growing a 1701 Jutras Squash.
My female blossoms on the main kept aborting out to 28’.
I had a nice 4 lobe blossom on the 4th secondary, length of the main was 9’ & the secondary was 8’.
I ended up with a1035.5 lb Squash which delighted us, particularly as it was 8% heavy & set a new State record.

6/17/2019 1:45:27 PM

Grittyville, WA

Materdoc... by fourth secondary you mean fourth on one side of the plant? if so really it would be the 7th 8th or 9th? just confused.

6/17/2019 4:42:57 PM

Grittyville, WA

I wonder the same thing wolfpack. I think you could leave them until they are gaining about 1 to 5 pounds per day. If your patch is mostly full you will have a set resource of about 8-15 lbs per day to work with. With two sets... under very good conditions you could go as high as 6 or 7 lbs per day per pumpkin but after that the plant will not be able to keep up with the needs of both.

Thats an answer that requires another answer... when are they gaining 1 to 5 lbs per day? Use your judgement. You will eventually be dividing limited resources between two pumpkins but probably not right away.

You are not alone in having to use a secondary. My main vine set aborted. I dont even have a good secondary.

6/17/2019 5:08:40 PM

central Nc

Materdoc i think you are right about the early weight gain. The secondary is noticeably bigger at this point. I just came in from making some aggressive adjustments on the main (95 degrees outside..why not) and managed to get the stem about 30 degrees from the vine so I'll keep working on it the next several days. The stem is another beast. You've heard of the s curve of the vine? Well I have a stem s curve!

I appreciate all the advice guys. This is my only AG and my 2nd year growing so I'm babying this thing til September....

6/17/2019 6:23:01 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

So the main vine set is 11 feet and before the break? If so, I like the main pollination at 11 and secondaries grown long before the break.

I tend to grow at least one on a secondary every year, and they do start faster but then they slow when the big gains count after day 30-35 while ones on the main keep pushing. I do agree with Dustin that 500 is easily attainable on the secondary. Another plus on that secondary is it’s only 3 feet off the main, so will do better than really far down. In 2012 I grew a 500 pounder on a secondary 20 feet down the main and 25 feet or so down the secondary. It was a bad year, I killed my plants in May then we had record heat all June and July. It was an August pollination.

Good luck and go with your gut.

6/17/2019 10:07:05 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

Yes, sorry, that was unclear.
It was on the 4th secondary on the left.

6/18/2019 3:22:18 PM

central Nc

Don't hit me guys, but I decided to keep both. That September failure last year still stings, so I want to have SOMETHING to take to a weighoff. New goal is 300# for each.

My reasoning is I won't place anyway and this is a 'pretty' seed (1059 x 975 Gansert) so maybe I'll have 2 HD contenders? I need more experience anyway...

I DO appreciate all the advice!

6/28/2019 10:59:51 AM

Central NY

Wuuussssyyy

6/28/2019 12:14:17 PM

central Nc

yes, i guess i deserve that. are you taking my dabbing rights away too??

6/28/2019 1:36:08 PM

Grittyville, WA

Just dont keep the worst one like I just did. Eventually the plant may eventually abort one or the other depending on the plumbing of the vines / genetics / weather or other stress. Or it may keep multiple sets going... Ive had it go either way.

6/28/2019 3:01:55 PM

central Nc

Almost did Brandon. Main aborted, so I'm all in on my secondary. Here we go

7/3/2019 1:01:02 PM