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Chesterfield, MO

I've tried to search around for the answer to this question, but I haven't been able to find it. If I wanted to cross a particular plant with 4-6 other plants (all different pumpkins) and just wanted these pumpkins for seed, how much plant would be needed by each one just enough to produce good mature seeds? If I chopped of an 8-10 ft secondary for each one would that be enough? Any other suggestions are welcome. I'm basically just trying to figure out the best way to do this without sacrificing too much of the plant so that I still might be able to grow something big on it. Thank in advance!!

Steve

12/30/2003 3:29:49 AM

Montoursville, PA

Singleness of purpose will get the best results. Are you growing for big or are you growing for seed? Why do a half baked job either way? You can support three or four seed pumpkins on one plant. You can support one giant pumpkin growing effort, on one plant. You can not expect the best of both worlds, on the same plant.

Growing these critters can be fun going any way you choose. The really big ones are usually culled down to one fruit on the main vine about twelve to fifteen feet down the main. All remaining growth and flowers are removed to devote total energy to the raising of the great pumpkin. For if you do not risk it all how will you know what your fruit may have been or will become?

12/30/2003 9:20:36 AM

Nova Scotia

if i were you trying to do this i would simply cut off the whole side vine (after roots are established on it ) and prefferably the vine would be at least 10'.

12/30/2003 1:00:37 PM

C N Y

Steve-i had an 801 Black plant that i wanted to remove a vine from because it was attached to the stem of my 526-to-be.....i took out a two-foot section of the vine, severing
at the stem of my 526 and back far enough down what was that vine to let me step where it used to be for measuring...even after i had chopped it, even quicker than i had thought, two females appeared real quick , and i pollinated both, the younger one 'took', and served as payment for the lifting of my 526 onto the trailer. i did not feel i was removing anything from the plant, for it had to come off anyway, and the fruit got to be about 100 pounds in a hurry. i think a fruit needs to be beachball-sized before it has mature seeds to speak of (100-150 pounds?) and if you
are doing anything like removing every other vine, or a specific pattern of vine growth, put that to use by actually growing your 'seed-fruit' on those vines that will be removed otherwise.....being certain to have plenty of secondary roots established first, before severing them a little at a time-(Boily did this last season on one fruit)--
no doubt, docgipe has good advice for you!-and that should be heeded first. 'pal2

12/30/2003 5:00:36 PM

Montoursville, PA

It is not the size that determines maturity. It is a fruit that goes to full term no matter what the size.

Any vines to use other than the primary fruit will be taking
energy away from the main objective pumpkin. It does not matter if it is cut off and growing beside or left on and growing as a second or third on the same vine.

If you elect to remove them then do just that but understand that the mass of the whole will fill in and use the part of the patch left empty when you remove a vine or part of a vine. This happens underground as well as on top if you permit it to happen. If for some reason you use that space for another purpose the takeaway is in direct relationship to the robbery or the prevent action.

12/30/2003 9:22:10 PM

Montoursville, PA

I don't understand that do you? :)

12/30/2003 9:24:00 PM

Chesterfield, MO

First of all I'd like to say that I appreciate your advice Mr. T, Gipe, and Gerry. What I took away from Eric's post is that if I plan on removing every other secondary anyways then it wouldnt really matter in terms of taking away from the total plant mass and energy that it would produce. I understand that it may take away some initial energy from the plant to grow that secondary and take up some space that might have otherwise been harvested by the roots of the main plant, but if I start my plants early enough shouldn't I be able to counteract such problems?

I would have to agree with docgipe that the size of a fruit should not have a direct impact on the maturity of the seeds. But the question is then...Is 10 ft of secondary vine enough to support the seed development of a pumpkin like Mr. T suggested?

Steve

12/31/2003 1:19:52 AM