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Ohio

why do most people prune every other vine?, the reason im asking is because i dont have very much room sideways for my secondaries on two of my plants, I only have about 10 feet side to side, but i have all the room i want long ways.

Do you think it would be ok for me to leave the first 4 or 5 vines on ,then trim every other one after that? Wouldnt more roots and more vines be better for the pumpkin?
Thanks Sly (Brooks)

6/15/2004 7:52:08 PM

Key West, FL

People do it to have more "ventilation" or air flow in the plant. Makes it easier to maintain your plant and harder for powdery mildew to start.

6/15/2004 8:26:57 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

I've found it makes patch management a bit easier, but also found that the leaf canopy seams to spread out further to take advantage of the space! Good luck!

6/15/2004 8:56:27 PM

Rhode Island

pruning every other side also makes weeding a heck of a lot easier
besides, if you go with every other thes ones you keep should have larger vines and leaves

6/15/2004 8:59:15 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Do most people prune every other secondary?
I'm a new grower, and am just wondering?

Doug

6/15/2004 9:16:23 PM

Rhode Island

some do some dont .i dont think from a growing stand point it matters either way
work wise its a lot easier with half the sides gone you have less to bury etc

6/15/2004 9:44:05 PM

Ohio

Is it ok to prune a few leafs for ventilation and weeding instead of pruning every other vine? More roots , more water for the plants right? With limited space like i have would u still prune every other vine then?

If I decide to prune every other vine at this point, which they are burried, would you just cut them off at the main or, cut them off at the vine tip and burry them?
(I Have 14 secondaries right now that are burried. (they are the range of 3 to 4 feet long, with main vine out about 14 feet)
Thanks again, Sly (Brooks)

6/15/2004 9:56:08 PM

Herndon, VA

In addition to what Ben stated about providing better ventilation, pruning every other vine also gives better access beneath the canopy for spraying fungicides. This is also essential in keeping powery mildew under control.

6/15/2004 9:58:32 PM

Herndon, VA

Personally, if I had 14 secondaries already buried, I'd leave em. See how it works for you, and if you get bad problems with PM, do every other vine next year.

6/15/2004 10:02:25 PM

Otis Orchards WA.

Just curious, at the end of the season do you just plow all the vines under, or dig them up and put them on the compost pile? Or what?
Scott

6/15/2004 11:20:29 PM

Puyallup, WA

I plow mine back into the soil, Scott. Providing they are relatively healthy.

6/16/2004 12:38:04 AM

Otis Orchards WA.

Thanks Stan, I'm training my main towards you place ill see you when it gets there :)

6/16/2004 1:22:14 AM

Key West, FL

Slychit, that is a new idea some people had. I am very seriously considering to try it with my 746 plant.

Mullet, I like to throw all my vines over the hill. Anything helps to keep your soil from becoming diseased.

6/16/2004 2:59:46 AM

Saegertown Pa.

I take all my vines out in the fall I don't want to take a chance on disease.

6/16/2004 9:07:18 AM

No Place Special

How about doing every third vine? Im thinking of trying that on one of my plants this year.

6/16/2004 9:45:22 AM

Greene County, Pa.

Im keeping all my vines. It may be a mistake but i need to learn this on my own, I feel the more vines the better root system. Maybe all the shade under those leaves will deter weeds to grow also. Ill keep a good eye on the mildew, and romeve if i have to later in the season..

6/16/2004 9:55:09 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Mike - I think that Alan said he does every third vine for additional space.....

It would be in his chat transcript.

6/16/2004 12:45:33 PM

Cologne / Germany

As Ben said, we had a discussion about that last season. Here it is:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=49629
I´m still not sure what method to use, it´s too early and it will depend what the plants will do in the next weeks.

6/16/2004 12:49:31 PM

I'm with Gordon... GO UTES!

In the past I've been trying to prune aggressively to
match what others have done to be sucessful. But... I'm
going to rethink that this year. I also get *plenty* of
"pruning" the natural way, WIND. W - I - N - D~~~~~~~~~~

And so, buy the end of the year I have little plant left,
between what the wind has taken out and what I've cut off.

Ventilation? HA! Not an issue for me. Between wind and low
humidity there are few worries. And when there are
lots of leaves, like when one plant grows into another,
the mass of leaves actually helps against the wind, they
are so thick that one leaf protects another.

Of course, your mileage may vary... ;-) - Cliff

6/16/2004 1:21:53 PM