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Omaha, Nebraska

I heard on here that pruning when the pumpkin is small could make cause it explode. Does pruning usually however cause a pumpkin to grow faster once its well established?
Also, would it be a good idea once the pumpkin is established to terminate the vine that grows directly after the pumpkin?

Clint

8/1/2001 2:52:42 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

I need to know whether or not to terminate the vine directly after the pumpkin as Crazy is growing at I would say a 45 degree angle from the vine and i dont want to reposition it which could possible cause a stem crack. if I cut this vine... im hoping it would reduce stess on the stem and possibly cause it to grow faster. What should i do? I dont want to screw it up cause its grow so fast?

8/1/2001 3:17:36 PM

Long Island,New York

CC...describe the size and shape of the plant, and where the fruit in question is. I grew a side vine fruit with the stem cut past the squash in 99...it ended up 565lbs with absolutely no stem stress.......G

8/1/2001 5:06:02 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

LIPumkin,

Crazy is growing on a sidevine(secondary) at 45-90 degree and form the vine.

8/1/2001 5:42:58 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

I meant 45 to 60 degree angle.

8/1/2001 5:45:01 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

LIPUMPKIN,

Did your 565lb Squash in 1999 begin to grow faster once you terminated the Vine just after the squash?

Thanks

8/1/2001 5:56:57 PM

Long Island,New York

The 565 was set on the 10th side vine on the west side of the plant, 7 feet off the main (my notes say SV10W7F).My patch was only 18 feet wide so all sides get terminated about that length. The vine was terminated as soon as fruit set so I have no growth info with vine/w/o vine to compare.It certainly made life easier...as the squash grew I clipped the roots at two leaf nodes and there was enough slack to make that part of growing a pleasure. I have recommended this method to beginners with side vine fruit before cause it really helps. I personally think stem stress/vine stress is one of the more difficult aspects to get down. How do you know when enough curve is enough? When enough slack is enough? If the fruit will have big shoulders? Short stems are not a problem anymore either.And access to the pumpkin is easier...Im not tripping over a vine anymore.......G

8/1/2001 7:54:06 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Im scared to death in having to cut the root below the pumpkin. If I cut it will it regrow later if I wanted to have it grow into a container of water/compost?

8/1/2001 7:59:35 PM

Liverpool , England

Yo C.C,
Don't cut the root...just dig it up.

Alun

8/1/2001 9:33:12 PM

Deer Park, WI

I have found that vine termination ranks right up there with watering and fertilizing in importance. I have 8 Ag's growing in my patch. The two plants that have terminated secondaries and no tert's are producing the largest fruit. The plants with roughly half the secondaries pruned and no terts are medium sized, and the plants with no pruning at all aborted their fruit. START PRUNING!

8/2/2001 9:22:36 AM