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South Dakota

What are your opinions on ending the main at the pumpkin when limited for space? If you are only goin to have room for 5 ft after the pumpkin anyway, wouldn't just filling in with pre-pumpkin secondaries be just as good?

6/7/2020 8:39:30 PM

Colorado

Keeping the main going as long as possible is practiced by some growers to keep the plant from senesce .The theory is that the growth tip of the main signals the plant to stay in growth mode along that major artery. Apical dominance. In theory how you prune makes a difference.

6/7/2020 11:27:53 PM

Pittsburgh, PA

If a world record is not your goal, terminating the main vine at the pumpkin will be just fine. I grew one over 1100# with the main termed at the pumpkin. I didn’t have any room for the main to grow as my spot was only 18x20 feet.

6/7/2020 11:43:59 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Terminating the main vine after the pumpkin is always recommended for newer growers. It will help you eliminate stem stress and will make the plant easier to groom.

I’ve seen too many new-ish growers lose pumpkins due to stem stress caused by poor fruit placement and keeping the main vine after the fruit, increasing stem tress issues.

6/8/2020 12:01:03 AM

Syracuse, NY

use your five feet to loop the growth back toward the plant and essentially have a divided highway thing going on - can't hurt and enables the vine to grow indefinitely; also, you could end the main where you have to, but use the very last side vine bud on it to develop and do what i said above at a right angle headed back into the plant - just an idea but EVERY thing was at one time---eg

6/8/2020 1:07:56 AM

Benson, MN

The 2261 Schmidt from last year was grown with the main terminated at the pumpkin.

6/8/2020 2:32:44 PM

Stanwood, Washington

I plan on doing that this year. Just make sure the Pumpkin is set before you terminate the main. It would be terrible if it aborted and you had no other options.

6/9/2020 12:23:11 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Most the time with my plants once the pumpkin is 20 days old and gains are increasing the main really slows down then once the pumpkin is about mature the main takes off again. I am in the process of finding a route for mine in my hoop now. I have terminated all side vines now and only Main vine growing.

6/9/2020 12:29:53 PM

Bethlehem CT

Cutting the main at the pumpkin certainly makes it easier, you will not have to worry about the pumpkin's shoulders pressing against the vine and causing stem stress. Captain is right though, if it aborts you don't have a lot of options to go with.

6/10/2020 6:50:47 PM

Littlerock, WA

I always terminate the main if it's a stubby stem.I wait to do it until day 20 or so.I think my biggest grown was 1836.

6/14/2020 11:26:08 AM

Central NY

Lookin real good LJ!!!

6/14/2020 12:09:35 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Your plant is looking awesome LJ. I know these genetics. Do not worry that it is not showing females early. Usually the first female shows up at about 15-18 feet out. I hope the first for you is a 5 lober. 4 lobers tend to be too square. With the health of your plant and all these generations of selfed, i would be shocked if it is not a solid orange....you are going to grow the biggest HD winner ever in SD.

6/14/2020 8:45:51 PM

South Dakota

Porkchop, bnot, Thank you for the props. I've put alot of hard work in so far, and it looks to be paying off. Bob, thank you again for the seeds. After last year, getting all the way to about 20 DAP and the whole plant rotted, I am not holding my breath. Really did not have control of the drip irrigation, I kept things way too wet. This year I bought a moisture meter and now realize how much I was over watering last year.

6/14/2020 10:26:57 PM

Grittyville, WA

It gets a thumbs up from me. I think it can help the plant focus a bit of extra positive energy on the pumpkin. I'd cut it early and would use a secondary as a backup but that's just my own weird all-I thinking!

6/15/2020 3:23:23 AM

Grittyville, WA

*All-In thinking

6/15/2020 3:24:06 AM