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Garden State Pumpkins

Okay you got me through the cuke bugs, the wilt, and the leaf damage. Now heres the problem! The vine has gone crazy I realize now that these pumpkins are unlike any pumpkin I had in this garden before. There is not any space to get into the garden without stepping on vines. The 20 by twenty garden has the main vine wrapped so its about thirty feet long and growing over all the secondaries. tried to post some pictures but haven't been able to get them on line. My question is should I cut back the secondaries and bury them or let it go and start up again next year in my Expanded garden...just pollenated #2 this morning. any tips would be appreciated.

7/23/2001 10:53:47 AM

Mid Michigan

Hey dad.....i've been cutting, and burying secondaries once they get about 6 feet long. I'm gowing mine in the "christmas tree" shape, and my main vine has grown about 15 feet into the lawn already. I cut, and buried 4 more secondaries this morning, and i'm gonna cut, and bury my main vine once it grows about another foot......that way it'll be out at least 5ft from the last female i pollinated. ( i want to stop vine, and leaf growth once i'm done pollinating so the water, and nutrients go towards fruit growth.)
You wanna leave at least 3ft of vine uncovered on either side of a growing pumpkin so it'll ( the vine) be able to raise up with the fruit growth. (The vines do send out tap roots thru the bottom)
I'm a 1st year grower too, but everything i'm doing seems to be working well. Everything's healthy, and i'm getting good gains on pumpkin growth.
Cuzbiker

7/23/2001 1:27:24 PM

Connecticut

I'd keep working with your plant, but in the fall I would expand your garden to at least a 40' by 40' per plant. I prefer more. Also build your soil before spring.

For this pumpkin I would certinally terminate the secondaries so it won't get bigger depending on how many pumpkins you have set. Good luck!

7/23/2001 7:51:19 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

pollenated number 3 today another perfect shaped 4 lobes. I ordered the langevin books last week and haven't received them yet. Will wait to start cutting the plant back till I've read more about on how to do it without causing more problems. thanks for the help

7/24/2001 12:11:58 PM

Omaha, NE

I know the feeling of out growing the space you alloted for the garden. I only have one that has set so far, but I cut off all secondaries, and shortened the vine after the pumpkin so the all nutrients go to the pumpkin. I don't want to cut off the secondary vines before the pumpkin until I get at least one or more pumpkins set. It looks like I will have a couple of females getting ready to open soon. I think I will try my hand at hand pollinating this time.

Karen

7/24/2001 12:41:12 PM