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Omaha, NE

Okay another new grower question. Secondary vines are crossing over the main vines. The middle of the patch is all criss-crossing mesh of vines. Problem/question is some of these vines are crossing close to "Geoff", my largest pumpkin, will this hinder the movement of the vine the pumpkin is on as it grows? I already trimmed one of them back about by three feet. If I trim some of the other vines crossing the vine with the pumpkin I will lose natural shade from the leaves. Does the vine need to lift up as the pumpkin grows or not? I had read some where that you should turn the pumpkin so that it is standing on the base as it grows to avoid a flat side. That sounded good at the time I read it, but now does not make sense, because then the tap roots can't get additional water/nutrients for the pumpkin..... Karen

7/29/2001 6:52:19 PM

Omaha, NE

I also posted a photo to the photo gallery, showing the vines.

7/29/2001 7:04:22 PM

Long Island,New York

Yes...these criss-crossing vines will hinder the ability of the vine to raise with pumpkin growth.Put a blanket on your fruit and you dont have to worry about losing any natural shade when you trim the messy vines.If the vine doesn't have the ability to raise up then the stem will tear off the pumpkin as the pumpkin grows. ideally you want to prop up these vines near the pumpkin in the very beginning...its harder to do as the fruit gets bigger.Turning the pumpkin works ok for pumpkins. these atlantic giants,show king squash, and prizewinners are squash. These has SOFT STEMS that will (I guarantee this) tear and brake if the fruit is turned.Not to mention that they weigh hundreds of pounds.You dont need the 3-4 extra tap roots at the vine near the pumpkin.
ps...if you dont trim the vines here's what will happen...from experience...a tangled mess. tertiary vines everywhere. You won' be able to effectively spray for bugs or mildew. You will get mildew....bad mildew. You will get discouraged.The leaves will fight each other to get the sun resulting in taller and taller stems that will eventually collapse upon themselves in the slightest wind. You won't be able to burry the vines and the plant will shift focus from building a pumpkin to supplying food for the leaves and stems and vine growth that cant support themselves because they arent rooted to the ground.Been there...done that....swore Id never let it happen again. Purhaps its just something we all have to do once. they are stil alot of fun !!....Glenn A

7/29/2001 8:50:16 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I have a very similar problem, My garden is way to small for these giants. I have allowed and even turned the main vine back to the middle of the garden to stop it from climbing over the fence. Glenn A sounds like someone whose let this happen before. While two pumpkins have set they show absolutely no growth in the last week. Both are on the main vine about three feet apart. I will have to go in and cut back and bury the vines to stop the leaves from climbing higher and higher. Have stop any fertilizer and am just watering. obviously the leaves are stealing all the growth. thanks for the hints glenn...chuck

7/30/2001 11:49:22 AM

Omaha, NE

Okay it took about three hours, but I went in and cut all of the secondary over lapping vines with no females. I son over planted big time, I did thin the plants as they germinated, but obivously not enough. I actually pulled a couple completely out (these that I pulled had most of the overlapping vines). Some of the vines I cut, actually reminded of "suckers" in my rose garden at our old house, suckers on a rose bush would just keep growing with no flower. Most of the vines I pulled had males, but not even a prospect of a female. I posted a new pic in the gallery showing the difference in patch size. I hope that now all the watering and growth will go to the pumpkins I do have, and the two I hope to set tomorrow on two different plants. I need to get soil to bury the vines, because I haven't been able to do that before. Hopefully the 4 plants remaining won't be shocked..... Karen

7/30/2001 9:51:10 PM

Deer Park WA

Karen, tough lesson to learn, we have all been there before A.G's need room to bloom... You still have a shot at growing a respectable specimin though... Best of luck Gadberry.......

8/1/2001 1:15:10 AM

Omaha, NE

Actually I am not growing AG, but Conn. Field and Big Max instead. They have taken off in growth, since the pruning, with no additional fertilizer.

8/1/2001 5:09:36 PM