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Canada

I noticed there are allot of people that Cut the flower and also the tendrills right at the node were there pumpkings
are set at. Is there a reason for doing this?


Reason I ask is because ive got a nice 620 Boyton ready to open within the next 3-4 days and ive got an 1178 L wentzell ready to open in about a day or 2 for pollination

was wondering if I should prune those tendrils and leaves off now or wait till after pollination has taken?

also do you leave the fresh cuts open or do you apply anything to them?



thanks

Dave

7/6/2004 1:57:23 PM

Ga.

Dave, most leaves are cut so they dont damage/harm the fruit..An inch scratch when a baby will be a monster when grown..Most wait til fruit are set..As far as cuts,,sulfur or captan applied and let air dry...
Jeff

7/6/2004 2:18:48 PM

I never apply anything to these cuts. I like to cut off the extra stuff way before pollination, or at least a few days after. The few days around pollination I like to give the plant nothing to worry about but getting the fruit set at that node.

7/6/2004 2:35:51 PM

Western Pa.

I think it's a lot of wasted time pruning tendrils, as long as your careful and snip any that might have grabbed a weed or something before you move a vine. I don't believe a pumpkin gains anything by pruning those omnipresent tendrils! Tendril pruners need a life!

7/6/2004 2:51:09 PM

Ohio

yea, i do the same thing Brigitte does. I have seen many times this year on my plants where the female is wedged inbetween the vine and the leaf stem. I definatly cut them leaves off.

Dave, my 1178 has 6 pumpkins, all about the size of a soft ball and all on diffrent secondaries,lol, that plant is crazy!, wish my main had not of broke on that plant, My first secondary next to the stump is out about 23 feet right now,lol, I just terminated all my vines about a hour ago on the 1178,now Im going to see which pumpkin grows the best, Ill probably keep 3 on this plant for Chits and Giggles.

7/6/2004 7:29:32 PM

Ypsilanti Michigan

Me too, that way I can get the fruit in the place where I want it when the tendril and leaf is removed, have five pumpkins set so far doing it this way. Oh this is a good year so far, almost broke a main on some blocks, but fixed it.

7/6/2004 8:29:53 PM

Key West, FL

You gotta be joking.. It doesn't take any time to prune tendrils, you move the tip of the vine each day don't you? You're there anyway, why not spend an extra second and cut them off? I prune tendrils, makes life easy.

7/6/2004 8:52:18 PM

Ga.

Doesn't it take energy/food away from the plant as the tendrils grow?? They do down here..Starting off small,,and get larger each day..I'd say thats robbing nutrients/food from the plant..May not be much,,but every drop counts..Right??

7/6/2004 9:10:36 PM

Ypsilanti Michigan

Tendrils also get in the way when it's time to cover vines. They point downward pushing the vines upward and must be taken off to insure good covering. They also pull seconaries against one another making it hard to seperate them at times. The plant has so much water that it would hardly notice, it heals in time.

7/6/2004 9:28:29 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

I have no life (closet tendril pruner) :0)

7/7/2004 12:34:17 AM

huntsburg,ohio

never have taken a tendril off nor a male flower have done ok.Jerry

7/7/2004 7:32:30 AM

Saegertown Pa.

I agree with Kirl a waste of time.

7/7/2004 9:10:26 AM

Ohio

I dont see how its a waste of time, we all arnt in a hurry are we?,,,, Well, I gotta hurry up and water my plant and do my no life pruning, I hate spending time growing these stupid pumpkins, kinda a waste of time growing one giant pumpkin on one plant, heck with weeding and watering too, I gotta go get a life somewhere, whats wrong with me.LoL

7/7/2004 9:38:42 AM

Cologne / Germany

Why don´t you simply burry the tendrils along with the vines? Takes a few seconds and helps alot to stabilize the vine. One hand of dirt out, tendril in, dirt back on top. Nothing more to do. Tendrils are in 45 deg angle to the vine many times and easily hold your vine like a cross stake in the soil.

7/7/2004 10:45:08 AM

Canada

Well from the point were I started burrying my vines
Tendrils and vines both got burried, Approx 2 foot out from
the burried vine lays my first female to be pollinated
and i will no longer burry the vine from this stage forward.

I can see what you mean how the tendrils act like feet
keeping the vine off the ground, I did get out this mourning and did some trimming both to the leaf at the pumpkin and also the tendrils.

Thanks for the info

dave

7/7/2004 1:40:48 PM

mcminnville oregon

I have been pruninng leaf, secondary vine , & tendril as soon as i can identify female? early termination makes everything easier?

7/7/2004 2:34:41 PM

Ohio

I have burried the tendrils before, but i also had em push my vine up outta the ground too, I dunno, Im just a newbie, I guess ether way u cant go wrong.

7/7/2004 5:59:33 PM

Western Pa.

Let's see, Jerry Rose & Quinn Werner have both replied here. Look up the records to see what they've grown(especially LAST YEAR!).Jerry, wasn't it 2 over 1350#? Quinn, didn't you have at least 4 @ 1000# or more last year? THEY DON'T PRUNE TENDRILS! Seems to me that by pruning these useless things, it would take energy away from the pumpkin, as the plant spends energy to heal itself. Duh? Is there anyone out there that has grown a 1000# pumpkin plus, and owes it to pruning tendrils? I've found that there's already more than enough work to do in the patch if you want to grow them big. It isn't necessary, and it's wrong to tell anyone it is,(unless many top growers have proven it.)Don't get too obsessed with your obsession, and make it harder than it already is! I rest my case!

as always,

Kilr

7/7/2004 7:55:35 PM