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Germany

Hi there, it´s my 2nd year growing AGs, and last year I found it sort of tricky to bend the main and/or the pumpkin in order to get the fruit in an approximate 90-deg. angle to the vine. Especially when the fruit was to be aborted after a few days and another one had to grow, the work began again (bending the main into the opposite direction etc.). Therefore, I thought it could be a nice idea to just pollinate the female(s), to see which one (out of 2 or 3 on the main) grows best (without doing anything like bending main or turning fruit), and then cut off the main right after the big candidate and let the secondary of this node become the new "main", as it would still be very thin and flexible and could (perhaps) be much more easily adjusted to an at-least-90-deg. angle to the fruit. Please, I would appreciate as many as possible comments of those of you guys who have made some experience with this method (no matter if positive or negative experience...every comment is welcome).
Thanks alot.

6/16/2011 3:26:19 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Many growers do cut at the main if set far back enough to eliminate complications as you mentioned. The problem with having the secondary at that node become the new main is it will add weight and stress directly to the pumpkin stem. I'd have a secondary a few feet before the pumpkin be the new main. Just my 2 cents.

6/16/2011 4:07:08 PM

Germany

Hi Luke, thanks alot for your response...never thought that it would remain the only one (a sad circumstance which makes your entry even more precious). As an optimist I can only conclude that all the other growers just did agree, and therefore haven´t seen any need for posting their own comments ;-)

6/24/2011 5:17:49 PM