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milford, CT,

One of my plants has a very thick-ribbed main vine.... almost a double vine. I have some concerns as to problems I'll have once the pumpkin begins to get bigger. So far I've been able to manage the vine prety well but it's about twice as big and heavier than any vine I've grown a pumpkin on before. I have a bunch of females on normal looking secondaries, but I'd like to try to grow one on the main. If anyone has grown a pumpkin on a vine like this ...any tips would be appreciated. Mark

7/3/2006 10:23:33 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

It's to brittle...better off on a round secondary..turning em is one thing...hanging a big pumpkin off em is another...get the female going on a slid secondary and trim back your main to there..makes that secondary the main from there on in..Unless it's sitting perfect and the vine will never move again your in for a long second half ..

7/3/2006 10:47:30 PM

Lexington, Ky

I grew a 583 on a main that was 3.5 inches thick, vertically. Horizontally, it was about 3/4 of an inch. While not totally certain, I believe this was a "ribbon" vine. For what it's worth, this plant was completely problem free. Bugs didn't like it and not once did this plant recieve a fungicide treatment.

I'd do it again!

Jamie

7/3/2006 10:48:24 PM

Lexington, Ky

Alexsdad's post helped to recall the issues that I had with fruit position on my "ribbon" main....it was extremely difficult. But nothing else took a set so I stuck with it.

Most growers would not have bothered.

7/3/2006 10:51:38 PM

no.scituate R I

Hi Mark I had a double vine on my 842 Eaton plant last year. I ended the main at the pumpkin and used the secondary before the pumpkin as the new main. It was easy to grow after that.Best of luck Joe

7/4/2006 8:27:55 AM

milford, CT,

Mother nature made the decision for me last night. Just as you guys said I should do.. she snapped the main about a foot in front of the pumpkin. She also gave me a secondary that has the perfect angle to just continue as a re-trained main. Thanks for the input.. all my concerns were backed- up by what you have experienced. I'll let the pumpkin grow..but I'll be pollinating many on secondaries and the retrained main. Mark

7/4/2006 11:24:18 AM

Long Island,New York

I think Im going to have to resort to the old PUMPKIN-ON-THE-END-OF-THE-VINE trick with my three stellpflug squash plants....big thick monster vines and having lost two mains already on other more important plants I'm somewhat gunshy. I'll grow the vine, pollinate the fruit, and when its set Ill cut the main off past the fruit.

7/4/2006 2:57:25 PM