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washington, maine

My Hebb 853 is really beginning to take off. I now have 6 pumpkins set and all the pumpkin stems are very short (about 3") The stems are very fat as well and all is looking good to say the least. I am worried about the pumkin shoulders a little later tearing the stem off and vine training will be difficult at best at this point. All the stems on my Dill 757 are at least 6-8" long and should not create any problems. I am doing my best to get the Hebbs perpendicular but still I am worried. Looking for suggestions. I am planning to prune to 1 pumpkin as soon as growth data is available for all 6 but that will be at least 2 weeks as our season is running behind. HELP!!

8/9/2000 7:49:39 PM

derry n.h u.s.a.

HI Maineman im suffering from the same problem or should i say my plant is. Short stout stems .I,ve put some deep thought into it over the past few days and what i,ve decided to do is when thay get huge and the vines are tight thouching the shoulders of the pumpkin im going to severe the out going vine and personaly i don,t think its going to make to much of a difference in the weight. When the pumpkin gains big weight and the main vine slows down and im talking big over 600lbs right in that ballpark i,d thinkthat most of that weight is coming from the stump and vines on the incomeing side of the pumpkin.after i cut it i can adjust the pumpkin so it,s not touching the shoulder. Last yr i grew a pumpkin over 800lbs the whole plant was feeding it on the incomeing side and the vine that left the pumpkin was only 12 ft or so with no secondaries and the leafs never did grow to full size like the ones on the other side of the pumpkin.I don,t know what your plant looks like or where your pumpkins are on the plant.So it,s a tough call. hope this was some help good luck John g.

8/9/2000 9:10:30 PM