From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Danville, CA ([email protected])

It has been a year since the last 14 page debate on this topic so I thought it would be a good time to start it again. Another year has led many of you to new observations due to a stump dying or a tip being burned/eaten or perhaps the most perfect plant. This was a very useful thread to me as I learned and learned. There was even talk of using radioactive material to trace the flow of nutrients (did that ever get done?) Anyway, the question is.....

What matters most? The plant BEFORE the pumpkin (ie stump to pumpkin), the plant AFTER the pumpkin (ie pumpkin to growing tip), or the WHOLE plant.

12/26/2006 1:28:19 PM

ordinary,VA

Steve Connolly wrote a very good article on backfeeding Atlantic Giants.

Check out the GVGO (July) Growers Vine newsletter.

12/26/2006 2:52:38 PM

Leamington, Ont.

They both player a major role. *Before-for early growth, as the plant fills in and the older leaves start to age and become less productive, thats when the newer,(*After)
become as important.

Of all the 1400 pounders listed(9), 2 don't have the info and 1 didn't fall into this category:

The remaining 6 were all set out at 15 feet or less and
all 6 were grown in patches between 600-900+ sqft.

Before and after seems to be about half way out or maybe even less!

12/26/2006 2:55:35 PM

Leamington, Ont.

I guess I should re-word it as "in my opinion..."

12/26/2006 5:14:07 PM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

here is an observation i made this year on my 1302 pumpkin. i notched the main vine about 4 ft in front of the pumpkin and 4 ft past the pumpkin on day #73. i did this to slow the growth due to splitting concerns. when i made the notch in front of the pumpkin, not one drop of fluid came out. the notch past the pumpkin dripped constantly. i do think the plant past pumpkin playes a roll in the late growth.

12/26/2006 5:40:14 PM

Wi

As a first year grower my knowledge is limited but here is my observation. My best plant was SEVERLY damaged by heat in July. Thankfully I was able to salvage the leaves past the fruit. Everything between the stump and fruit was fried while everything after was immaculate. My stump proceeded to rot until I finally pulled it. The fruit gained consistently until I pulled the stump then almost completely stopped. Even with the beautiful plant past the stump. There were other variables also (when aren't there), but in my experience the stump should be considered MUCH more valuable.

I also obseved this year that taproots seemingly are much less vigorous in growth while the fruit is growing fastest. That could explain why the plant well past the fruit may not feed growth much.

12/26/2006 5:48:43 PM

Deer Park WA

We believe that the first few secondaries off the stump are the stronges/longest and feed the pumpkin the most, as the leaves on these first secondaries break down the secondary rooting on them continues to pump the most growth into the fruit the vines after the fruit provide the needed photosynthis and balance the massive root structure of the early vines.... Just my opinion

12/26/2006 9:06:22 PM

Chippewa Falls, WI

Does a potato grow under ground?

12/26/2006 9:58:48 PM

Rhode Island

You need a big plant before pollination to get that giant growing.

With a BIG PLANT BEFORE THE FRUIT ( 12 to 14 SIDES EACH )

Then allow the natural growth to follow after the pumpkin (main and secondaries only )

By doing so if you loose the base ( we lost the base on my 1,450 in mid august ) then between the sides left before the fruit, plus vines and leaves after, the pumpkin will keep growing.

Thats not to say the daily gains wont drop once the base and a couple sides are loped of cause the dailies will drop some.

But with a bigger food factory before and after the fruit the set back is much less than it could have been.

12/26/2006 10:28:18 PM