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South East

pumpkins on a main vine,, in good conditions can pack up to 50 lbs or more a night,
Are pumpkins on a side less agressive , do they useally pack up less lbs..do they growth slower,,? or is there no diffrence at all..

7/28/2007 4:22:42 AM

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Sides may grow more quickly just after they're pollinated but they always slow down & will never perform as well as a main set in the long run.

7/28/2007 10:19:29 AM

Knopp, Germany

Steve is right, but.....if the main vine set decides to split, or rot, or have seeds in the blossom, or have a soft stem/blossom, or, or, or, then is a side vine AG always welcome.

I always have one on the side till at least the end of July, that is probably why I have never grown one over 900 pounds, but after my year where all 6 split I am a bit gun shy.

7/28/2007 12:58:35 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I'm with Owen, I almost always keep a pumpkin on a secondary as a back-up/shock absorber especially in the past couple of years when I've had some pretty nasty stem splits.

Secondary fruit tend to be a bit smaller but are sure welcome when your main fruit goes down.

I had one 577.5 on the main and 511 on a secondary.

7/28/2007 1:47:14 PM

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Oh I've always kept side sets too. But they've also gone down on me. LOL

This year we're going for broke on one plant that (so far) is doing everything right. Sleepless nights ahead? Probably.

7/28/2007 11:38:37 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

with one exception I'm all on secondaries this year. Had two mains break and ran out of room with another one. Never had so much trouble setting a fruit on the main vine before.

7/29/2007 12:43:54 AM

maine USA

What if the side vine is almost directly off the stump? My female on the main aborted, the pumpkin on the secondary is very healthy looking. thanks KathyT

7/29/2007 10:03:02 AM

Buffalo, New York

according to this guys diary, his side vine pumpkin is still bigger then his main.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2007&grower=3658&action=L

into day 36ish now almost.

7/29/2007 10:20:51 AM

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Jeremy,

There could be something else causing the main set to go slow not the least of which could be the side set.

7/29/2007 6:22:13 PM

St. Thomas Ontario

I'll tell ya though, i'm "this guy" and have never been a fan of side vines either, but if your's is bangin' out the inches, sometimes the 'horse' on the outside of the track will suprise you. i've been tempted to cut this one off at day 10, day 20, now day 30+ but she hasn't stopped. Now sits around 500 lbs and still doing 2" a day. Don't have high hopes for it for the simple fact it's a 'side vine'... but we'll have to see;)

7/30/2007 5:44:39 PM