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South Dakota

I have 4 pumpkins set on my plant. The oldest is 11 DAP with a 10 day circumference of 29 1/2 inches, but is in a really bad location being on a side. My next oldest is on the main about 18-20 ft out 9 DAP and yesterday it had a circumference of 25 inches. This pumpkin is in the position that I had planned for and have it set up. The next two are space about 4-5 nodes apart up the main, one pollinated on 7-2 and the last one just this AM. Would it be better to cull the big side now, would it direct more to the main vine pumpkin, or should I wait a while longer to see how the ones on the main progress. When culling the pumpkins, do you just cut it off right off, or I have read where people cut half way through one day then finish it off the next. Idea is to prevent a huge surge going to the main pumpkin and blowing her up. When do you people cull down to one? Only the second time I have gotten this far in a grow, so any and all advise is appreciated. Pics in my dairy.

7/6/2020 9:45:50 AM

Bethlehem CT

I would cull the big one on the side vine. If you want to be conservative cut half one day and the other half the next. (I am not sure if that really helps or not) I would keep your third and fourth as back ups just in case. Sounds like you are doing a great job! Having lot's of options is always good.

7/6/2020 1:20:33 PM

Bethlehem CT

Pumpkins on the main vine generally start out a little bit slower than those on the side vines, but in the end they will surpass the side vine pumpkin.

7/6/2020 1:21:29 PM

Syracuse, NY

Ahem---my policy is to get 3 going - one on the main vine at at least 10 feet, plus one on each side on an oldest secondary if i can. no matter what, an equilaterally-triangular pattern. for ME, that means that up to basketball size and judging by DAP then, i'll be in the same boat as you are, but each of us with added surety by then that at least one will make it.

IMHO, BY the time of, say, 250-300 lbs. est. wt. of ANY, cull the SMALLEST and like 3-5 days later, yes, HALF-CUT through the remaining MEDIUM fruit's stem if you wanna be down to one, cutting it off all the weigh 3-5 days later still, harvesting super seeds from that one if you wish. Top Fueler cutting power, deploying 'chute, braking and coming to rest for discussion of how it went. it's run its course. you CAN also keep the second-largest one on indefinitely - i forgot to finish culling a 280-something and it did really well, lol; now, i have 1007 Brown X 2145 McMullen seeds yet to be tried, woo-hoo!---

i'm always 'afraid' to pollinate any more on the main vine than the first one at or beyond 10 feet, because what if the plant has determined to abort the first to provide for the second or third on the main, or a side? PERHAPS aborts are partially-caused BY additional pollinations? hmmm...

in re-reading, i see that you've one sider, one where you want it and
two additional on the main. IMHO, balancing with OTHERS' opinions, to flip a coin, it'd be (grimacing)...go with your planned-on fruit and the oldest one on the side. if you LOVE to pollinate, do one more on a distant secondary, but, probably no point to it because of my 'afraid' comment above. the key word is 'distant';
this would mean removing the main's latest two, hoping the plant has not decided to abort anything else because of them.

not hijacking, (yeah, right) i hope, but avoiding my own wordy post, so i think any additional opinions will help LJ and myself about that topic as well.
good luck, LJ! eg

7/6/2020 1:41:03 PM

Syracuse, NY

ahhh, whist i doth typeth, true knowledge arises! cool---eg

7/6/2020 1:41:55 PM

Lakewood, WA

So great to see the thoughtful questions and answers this season, keep up the good work!

7/6/2020 3:39:02 PM

Syracuse, NY

yeah, thanks big moon!

7/6/2020 10:17:13 PM

Syracuse, NY

,

7/6/2020 10:17:35 PM