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Ohio

Why is it that most people like to wait to pollinate there first female at least 10 to 20 feet out?, Wouldnt u get more energy if it was closer to the stump? I dont know but im going to find out this year, hopefully i can get a female before the 10 feet range and compare the growth.

How do you make your S in the vine? I mean do u start making the S when u see the little tiny flower first emerging, Or do u wait till it blooms before you start making the S in the vine? Also if you wait till it blooms and do the S pattern to avoid kink wouldnt you be pulling up the tap roots that are growing out of the the bottom of the main vine and secondary where it meets? Still kinda confused about the best way and safest way to do it so you dont here,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,SNAP!
Slychit(brooks

6/11/2004 3:14:46 PM

Nova Scotia

most people wait till 10' or better so that the pumpkin has enough size to have maximium growth from start to finish. although the stump provides a lot of juice i would guess that the roots under the leaves make up more than half of the plants intake. thus the closer the pumpkin is to center of the juice flow the bigger in theory it could possibly get,

as far as the S curve you start as soon as you see the female. personnaly i put a matterial under my pumpkin and mearly cut the tap roots as needed then pull the fruit forward as needd to relieve stem stress.

6/11/2004 4:01:04 PM

northern indiana

There are a number of people who firmly believe that it is the plant behind (toward the stump) that feeds the pumpkin. I don't have enough experience to say one way or the other. However, the majority of large pumpkins are set at least 10 ft out. As I only have room for 2 plants I will try to follow what others have had success in doing, rather than take chances trying to set trends.
Eric

6/11/2004 8:41:33 PM

Rhode Island

eight to ten ft out is the closest i would go

reason is you need sides also before the pumpkin

logic dictates that if everyrhing is done correctly you should be dead ending at least your first set of sides at the same time you are polinating

however to do this and be farther out than ten feet you need to have a good spring and a good growing plant

6/11/2004 11:28:59 PM

Ohio

Mr T
you mean you dont use the S ?

6/12/2004 4:50:15 AM

Nova Scotia

no i don't use the S SlyChit for i find it makes training the side vines difficult and i usually set 3-7 fruit on befor i decide which one i like so my plant would look like a bloody twisted up snake.

6/12/2004 10:13:44 AM