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Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

I've read where a lot of growers prune every other secondary vine. I can see the argument that it allows for easier access to the main and gives more airflow to help avoid mildew but...by pruning every other secondary aren't we seriously cutting back on the amount of leaves and roots that are needed to grow a really big fruit? What are some pro's and con's of this practice?

7/12/2007 4:20:04 PM

southwest MO

I dont know about prunning every other one, but next year I will definatley take a few to have better access into the plant. You know you can have 2 plants with exactly the same number of sides and the same number of leaves but be different sizes. I think Al Eaton said once(I hate quoting people so I'm not) that by growing his first sets of secondarys at an angle behind the crown, gave him more room to walk between the secondarys and manage the plant. i.e. He didnt try to stuff a 750 sq. ft. plant into a 500 sq. ft area. I'm probably not real clear here but trying to contribute...

7/12/2007 5:37:33 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Mark,
I've wondered about this myself. I've heard that the leaves grow larger if every other vine is pruned. I would think the leaf canopy would equal nearly the same area, as when leaving every secondary on. There would be less leaf-node roots(axial roots?), because less leaves.
I pruned every other secondary off a plant a couple of years ago. I don't think I noticed larger leaves myself. Less leaf crowding though.

7/12/2007 5:38:14 PM

Cornell, Wi

I wonder if you left all secondaries but pruned some of the leaves off to promote better air flow and bigger leaves. It would still give you the extra roots and would open it up better. I havent heard any input on this theory, I was thinking about it last week.

7/13/2007 12:31:19 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Thats an interesting thought cotterpins. You could prune ever other leaf, or so. I have(though rarely) pruned off a leaf here and there, if the are closly spaced on the same vine.

7/13/2007 1:14:23 AM

Wi

I've had it both ways in my patch. No doubt you grow some MONSTER leaves with every other vine pruned. Access is much much easier also.

7/13/2007 9:02:41 AM

Cincinnati,OH

I'm pruning every 3rd secondary this year.
The plant still has every sq inch covered with leaves.
Much easier to weed, prune tertiaries and apply sprays to underside of leaves. Will probably go with pruning every other secondary next year.

7/17/2007 8:07:14 PM