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Salt Lake City, UT

Just wondering what the most up-to-date thinking is on this. I've heard some say, in the past, that a second main vine and the leaves from its side vines will not contribute to the growth of a pumpkin on the primary main vine. Do you all think this is true? Is the opposite also true? If so, could a second pumpkin be grown on a second main vine without draining any energy and "sap" from the big pumpkin on the primary main vine? I'm thinking of growing a second main off my already small plants (400 sq. ft.) so that I can make another cross, for seeds only. No secondary vines would be allowed to grow off this second main vine. I'm just trying to decide if I could do this without diverting any/much energy from the single fruit I'm growing. Basically, I want the best of both worlds: to be able to grow the biggest pumpkin possible from my plant AND to be able to make a second great cross (I don't care how big that pumpkin gets). Any thoughts?

3/4/2005 1:26:08 PM

Cincinnati,OH

I think a couple growers here tried cutting the secondary vine the genetic pumpkin was on in order to limit it's size while the secondary root system kept it alive in order to ripen. I'm not sure how that turned out. If I want another genetic pumpkin I set it about 3 to 4 weeks after the first.

3/4/2005 3:06:15 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

If you develop a second main vine coming from the base of the plant, you can either leave it attached or cut it off after a pumpkin has set on it. The pumpkin won't get really big but can get as much or more than 500 pounds. I think I would just leave it attached to the plant as it won't take anything away from the pumpkin on the main vine. Lots of growers in the past have had nice pumpkins on a "second" main vine.

3/4/2005 3:26:39 PM

Goffstown,nh

Matt,
There was a time years back when all growers maintained both a Back vine and a main vine fruit. Theories have since changed and most now only keep one on the main. Back in 2001 Jim Kuhn grew his 980 on the main and his 811 on the back vine of the 723 plant. We've seen stumps rot clean off yet the fruit becomes independent of the stump and continues to grow. So i do believe the back vine is completely independent of the main vine and can grow a viable fruit without hindering the main vine fruit. I do believe however you must allow as much side vine growth as posible on the back vine too (this is key). Just my thoughts...

3/4/2005 3:41:44 PM

Benton Ky

This will be my second year growing ag's so I am by no means a pro, but one of my plants had a rear main last year that did really well. One thing I did notice is the front main growth really slowed after the main fruit took off ,the rear main and secondaries continued to grow well.The rear main produced a pumpkin about a 100 lbs less than the main pumpkin and several (4) in the 200- 350 lb range. I just let it go after cutting the main fruit, I was really amazed at what it produced afterward.
Do you guys think the larger basil crowns gives a better chance at larger fruit? I was just curios because some of my plants produced well with a lot smaller one last year.

3/4/2005 4:05:00 PM

Utah ([email protected])

Matthew,
Are you back in Utah? I just sent you an email but it got bounced back. What is your latest email?
Thanks,
Brent W.

3/4/2005 5:32:44 PM