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Ohio

When is a good time to cut the tap roots on the main vine when your sure your pumpkin is growing, right away? or leave the tap roots till you see a slight bit of stress on the stem and then cut the roots? Reason i say leave the tap roots till you see slight stress is because you would want all the roots you can get at this point for the growth of your pumpkin, right?
thanks,
Brooks

7/1/2004 8:24:10 PM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Brooks:
I like to cut 'em sometime after fruit has reached basketball size...yes, I like the idea of leaving the root as long as possible. Watch it close though. When it gets tight there will be no warning before the stem snaps away from the vine...
Frank

7/1/2004 8:47:03 PM

KENTUCKY

agree with ya'll leave them as long as possible. Insure THAT is the fruit you want to keep before cutting them, and not a fruit farther down the line, then you cut roots for no reason.

7/1/2004 8:58:22 PM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

In looking at past records, I've always found the need to sever roots at around 50-55" circumference...Bad things happen if you wait too much longer after that. (Trust me!)
Frank

7/1/2004 9:21:34 PM

Western Pa.

I think I remember Sly saying he had a bowling ball size pumpkin going straight up into the air. I think that much weight may cause early stem problems. In that instance, I'd sever them, to get the fruit down to earth. One other note: keep checking those severed roots, sometimes they may grow back!

7/2/2004 8:17:11 AM